Mesquite council fires city manager after recordings of racist remarks

The Mesquite City Council on April 22 voted to terminate City Manager Edward Owen Dickey III after the public airing of audio in which he made racially charged remarks during what he said was a private conversation.

Councilwoman Patty Gallo moved to terminate Dickey immediately; Councilman Kevin Parrish seconded the motion and the council carried it by a 5–1 tally. The council then directed that Deputy City Manager Martine Green serve as interim city manager.

The decision followed hours of public comment and more than a dozen residents, employees and former officials who described the remarks and urged firm action. Dr. Woolridge Ofori, who identified herself as a longtime resident and a medical professional, told the council: “Silence in the face of racism is not neutrality. It's complicity.” Former Police Chief McCoy Chesley, who has been at the center of recent personnel disputes, said the issue was one of character. “This is not about poor leadership, this is about character,” Chesley said in public comment.

City Manager Dickey addressed the council before the vote. “I said those things. I'm sorry for saying them. It really isn't who I am,” he said in the chamber. He told council members he had reported the matter to human resources and had offered apologies to several people already.

Council members described a difficult deliberation. Councilwoman Gallo said she was motivated by the depth of hurt in the community and called for immediate termination to begin a process of healing. Councilman Parrish seconded the motion. Other council members who spoke — including Councilman Paul Wanless and Councilman Bill Ennis — described having been troubled by the comments and the fallout for public trust.

Public commenters urged stronger penalties and systemic changes. Local residents and employees asked the council to order an independent investigation of related workplace culture and to expand anti-bias training across city departments. Several speakers said they had been personally hurt by the comments and urged that the city adopt clearer policies and training to prevent a recurrence.

Following the vote, the council signaled a desire to move quickly to stabilize operations and begin a review of personnel and HR procedures. Martine Green, who has served as deputy city manager and filled the city manager role on previous occasions, was named interim city manager immediately after the vote.

The council did not release, during the meeting, the full set of underlying audio clips or an independent investigative report. Several speakers urged that council commission an independent review to determine whether additional disciplinary actions or policy changes are necessary.

The decision to terminate is effective immediately. The council said it will address staffing and administrative continuity with Green in the interim and will report further action items in subsequent meetings.