Home / Dallas News / McKinney sets November recall election for council member La’Shadion Shemwell

McKinney sets November recall election for council member La’Shadion Shemwell

When deciding on the presidential election, a congressional contest and other local races in November, McKinney voters will be asked two additional questions.

The first: Should council member La’Shadion Shemwell be recalled?

The second: Should the city be allowed to sell about 55 acres of parkland near the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary?

The McKinney City Council voted this week to approve the special elections for November.

The coronavirus pandemic had forced the city to postpone the recall election Shemwell has been facing since late last year, when a petition collected enough signatures to trigger the measure.

The recall effort began shortly after Shemwell asked the council to declare a “Black State of Emergency” following a number of high-profile cases of police officers fatally shooting Black people in Texas.

On the ballot, the question will read: “Shall La’Shadion Shemwell be removed from the office of McKinney City Council Member (District 1) by recall?”

Voters also will decide whether to authorize the city to potentially sell land referred to as the Dowell Property, which “is undeveloped and is currently used for grazing livestock,” according to the city’s website.

The property, close to the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary, has been identified as a possible location for a new park.

If voters approve the measure and the city decides to offer any portion of the property to a third-party buyer, “any development plan will include a hike and bike trail across the southern portions of the property to maintain the goal of expanding and connecting the overall trail system,” according to the city.

The exact language on the ballot will read: “Shall the City of McKinney, Texas, be authorized to sell certain park property, being 55.234 acres of land located approximately 0.6 miles east of State Highway 5 on Harry McKillop Blvd. and 0.25 miles south on Couch Drive, in the F.T. Duffau Survey, Abstract No. 287, McKinney, Collin County, Texas?”

The Heard Museum’s executive director, Sy Shahid, spoke to the council and expressed concern for wildlife at the sanctuary. Several council members said they would make sure no potential development would result in harm to nearby wildlife or to the Heard’s facilities.

Early voting runs from Oct. 13 to Oct. 30. Election Day is Nov. 3.

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