Rowlett council removes Councilmember Debra Shinder, declares vacancy in Place 6

The Rowlett City Council voted 6-0 on May 20 to remove Councilmember Debra Shinder from office and declare a vacancy in Place 6 under the Rowlett City Charter.

Shinder submitted a written request that the council remove her, citing illness and a desire to allow the council to move forward. Mayor Jeff Winget read the letter into the record; in it Shinder said she had intended to remain under the charter’s holdover provision until her successor was seated after the June 7 runoff but asked the council to invoke charter section 3.09 subsection 2 to remove her effective May 20.

The council considered two related agenda items: whether to excuse Shinder’s previously recorded absences on May 5 and May 12, and whether to remove her and declare the seat vacant. Council briefly discussed the procedural requirements; the city attorney advised that the charter requires the council to remove a member under the subsection cited if the member requested removal for the stated reason. Councilmember Shoop moved to remove Shinder and declare the vacancy; Councilmember Bowers seconded. The motion carried 6-0.

Mayor Winget and other council members spoke about Shinder’s service and said they hoped to schedule a formal recognition at a later meeting. The council noted the procedural nature of the vote and said it would follow charter and administrative procedures to fill the vacancy.

No public comments were made on the removal during the meeting.

Speakers on the item included Mayor Jeff Winget, City Manager David Hall and the city attorney; the letter from Shinder dated May 19 was entered into the record.