Rowlett council finds ethics complaint against Mayor Pro Tem Michael Shoop without merit

Rowlett City Council deliberated publicly on an ethics complaint filed Oct. 28 by resident Jacqueline Bassilone alleging that Mayor Pro Tem Michael Shoop used his official position to secure special privileges related to code enforcement and bypassed permit requirements for personal roof work.

Bassilone (speaker 31) described repeated code-enforcement contacts and said the council member’s handwritten note—delivered with a council business card stapled to it—felt threatening and led to repeated enforcement visits. "We didn't buy the house to be bullied," Bassilone told the council during public comment. She asked the council to address selective enforcement and ensure consistent application of code across properties.

Shoop (speaker 16) maintained he did not file enforcement complaints as an elected official and that his involvement was pursued as a private citizen (he acknowledged using the city’s action center on two occasions) to address what he and neighbors considered safety issues such as blocked school-bus access. When asked whether his actions crossed the line into misuse of office Shoop replied, “Absolutely not.”

After questioning both parties, the council discussed the complaint in light of its ethics code (sections prohibiting use of office to secure special privileges, the use of official information for private gain, and granting special consideration). The mayor and several council members concluded that the evidence in the complaint did not demonstrate a violation of the code. One council member said the use of a council business card alongside a handwritten note was a lapse of judgment but not a breach warranting sanctions. In a motion brought by Councilmember Britton and seconded by Councilmember Reeves, the council voted to find the allegations without merit. Shoop abstained from that vote as required by policy.