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Home ============ Teachers' Salaries ============ potential AISD employee child care benefit ============ Taxpayers' Funds at Risk ============ Open Letter to AISD Taxpayers ============ Citizens Defending Freedom vs. AISD Lawsuit ============== April 13, 2026 Newsletter ============= Arlington City CouncilGrades ============= AISD Board Grades ================ April 6, 2026 Newsletter ============ March 30, 2026 Newsletter ============ March 23, 2026 Newsletter ============ March 16, 2026 Newsletter =========== ================ Hunter Crow, Candidate for Mayor ============= Jim Ross, Mayor ============= Shaun Mallory, Candidate for Mayor ============ Steve Cavender, Candidate for Mayor ================ Kelly Burke, Candidate for Place 3 ============ Nikkie Hunter, District3 ================ Tom Ware, Candidate District 4 ============= Rojo Meixueiro, Candidate District 4 ============= Lisa Ventura, Candidate District 4 ================ Rebecca Boxall, District5 ============ Brittney Garcia-Dumas, Candidate District 5 ================ Jason Shelton, Candidate District 8 ============= Melody Fowler, Candidate District 8 current AISD-Place2 ============= Corey Harris, Candidate District 8 ================ Jan Tyler, Candidate for AISD Place 6 ============= Brooklyn Richardson, AISDPlace6 ================ Leanne Haynes, AISDPlace7 ============= Linton Davis, Candidate for AISD Place 7 ================ Mauricio Galante, District1 ============= Raul Gonzalez, District2 ============= Andrew Piel, District4 ============= Long Pham, District6 ============= Bowie Hogg, District7 ============== Barbara Odom-Wesley, District8 ============= Sarah McMurrough, AISDPlace1 ============= Larry Mike, AISDPlace3 ============= David Wilbanks, AISDPlace4 ========== Justin Chapa, AISDPlace5 ============= Fact Sheet - November 8, 2022 Election ============ ++++++++++++ ============= Kennedale Observer Homepage =========== Investigation Report =============== Kennedale Senior Tax Freeze ============== Hammack Creek Apartments Disaster ============ 1083 Bowman Springs Road Kennedale ============ Kennedale City CouncilGrades ========== Texas Open Meetings Act Violations??? ============== The Bridge ============== Kennedale Observer - Latest Newsletter ============ Prior to That Newsletter ================== Brian Johnson, Candidate for Kennedale Mayor ============= Thelma Kobeck, Candidate for Kennedale Mayor ================ James Connor, Candidate for Kennedale Place 2 ============ Bryant Griffith, Candidate for Kennedale Place 2 ================ Ryon Ray, Candidate for Kennedale Place 4 ============= Melissa Barrow, Candidate for Kennedale Place 4 ================== Brad Horton, Kennedale Mayor ============ David Glover, Kennedale Place 1 ============= Ken Michels, Kennedale Place 3 ============= Jeff Nevarez, Kennedale Place 5 ============ Kennedale City Council Compare ========== Kennedale EDC MMA contract information ==============

April 12, 2026 – Volume 9 Number 15

HIGHLIGHTS:

* League of Women Voters Candidate Forum on Wednesday. Early voting starts April 20.

* May 2 Election has three contested races:

Ballot Order:

Mayor – Brian Johnson http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_87.html

Mayor – Thelma Kobeck http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_90.html

Place 2 – James Connor http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_57.html

Place 2 – Bryant Griffith http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_49.html

Place 4 – Ryon Ray http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_50.html

Place 4 – Melissa Barrow http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_56.html

SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, April 14: KKB (Keep Kennedale Beautiful) meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, April 14: Parks Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 15: LWV Candidate Forum, KHS Media Center, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 18: Bark in the Park, 9:00 a.m. - noon.

Monday, April 20: Start of Early Voting for Municipal and ISD May 2 Elections, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, April 21: City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 23: P&Z meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, April 28: End of Early Voting for Municipal and ISD May 2 Elections, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, April 28: EDC Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 30: Town Hall meeting with Mayor Horton (State of the City), 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 2: Municipal and ISD Elections, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

KNOW WHAT YOUR CITY IS UP TO...

Your City Council

The city council did not meet this past week. The next scheduled monthly meeting is Tuesday, April 21.

The League of Women Voters is hosting a candidate forum of council candidates and a pair of KISD candidates this Wednesday, April 15, at the Kennedale High School Media Center. The event will be from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Selecting the Right Candidate

How to vote? The biggest one thing I would say is to select candidates that are NOT rubber-stampers. If something does not pass the smell test you need someone who is smart enough and has enough courage to ask more questions and possibly vote NO. You need to look for council members who will listen to you, your neighbors, and the businesses and place a priority on you over developers' desires. You want someone who is smart and who has common sense. If they have been a council member in the past, LOOK AT THEIR VOTING RECORD. This is a very good indication of how they will vote in the future.

If you look on the city's website (bottom of this page: https://cityofkennedale.com/108/Elections-Elecciones, they try to display the governance model as citizens being on top, electing a city council, who directs the city manager, etc. Well, if the situation has a majority of the city council who are rubber-stampers, the citizens are no longer in control. It eliminates one of the necessary checks and balances.

You want someone smart enough to apply logic and who has common sense who will listen to you, your neighbors, and the businesses and place a priority on you over developers' desires. You want someone who wants smart growth versus just wanting any or stupid growth.

A special 2026 issue is the city manager. You do NOT want a council that micromanages the city manager, but it has become very evident that this city manager, as nice as he may seem, has shown he needs controls on him. He has spent over the amount he was permitted on a contract without council approval. He was a big part of the delay in seniors getting the expected effects of the tax freeze a year later. Then there was the signing of the Investigation contract prior to another meeting with the council.

* * * * * * * * * *

The Kennedale Observer's recommendations:

Mayor: Thelma Kobeck

Place 2: James Connor

Place 4: Melissa Barrow

MAYOR

Both Brian Johnson and Thelma Kobeck have been on the council. Johnson was Mayor 2014-2021 when he resigned. (Johnson also served on the council prior to becoming mayor.) Kobeck served these past two years as the Place 2 representative.

Kennedale Observer grades (http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_26.html):

F – Brian Johnson.

A – Thelma Kobeck.

Johnson, a professor, obviously has book smarts, but that has NOT translated in making sound business decisions. He was mayor for two of Kennedale's biggest disasters of the past decade, the Hammack Creek Apartments [http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_14.html] and the Alta Apartments where unbelievably the council approved multi-family adjacent and TOWERING OVER existing R-2 homes. Throw in the Chamber demise debacle demonstrating his inability to make proper business decisions. These decisions overshadow the positives.

Out-of-control city managers have also been a part of Johnson's past record. There was the land sale/deal/? of 1083 Bowman Springs [http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_45.html] that never generated a financial transaction or approval by the EDC or the council. This would have been with Bob Hart as city manager. Then there were George Campbell and Melissa Daley allowing Hammack Creek to build into the roadway right-of-way and Alta apartments building outside of code regulations (at the very least the retaining wall).

Kobeck on the other hand has shown a desire for smart growth, voting against poor projects. In February 2026 she voted against a resolution of support for low-income townhomes. She also opposed a high-density trailer park that in all likelihood will cost more in services than the revenue from property taxes.

Kobeck would seem to be able to perform no worse than Johnson on out-of-control city managers. In August of 2025 she voted to only increase the city manager's spending limit without council approval to $50,000. Several council members wanted a higher spending limit.

The Kennedale Observer strongly recommends THELMA KOBECK.

PLACE 2

Both James Connor and Bryant Griffith have served on the city council. Connor was elected and served 2021-2023, when he was unsuccessful in his reelection attempt. Bryant Griffith was appointed in 2023-2024 [remember the potential Pay to Play scandal], when he was defeated in his election bid.

Kennedale Observer grades (http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_26.html):

A – James Connor.

F – Bryant Griffith.

James Connor was part of the 2022-the first half of 2023 council that was actually getting good things done for the city. He is honest, logical, independent, transparent, and forward-thinking.

Bryant Griffith played a significant role in the decline in 2023. He was the plantiff in the Investigation Report witch hunt from last spring. He was also part of the Chamber demise debacle.

The Kennedale Observer strongly recommends JAMES CONNOR.

PLACE 4

Neither Ryon Ray nor Melissa Barrow have served on the council before. So, this comes down to “feel”, a lot based on the replies to the questions.

Ryon Ray leaves me with the impression of being a rubber-stamper, the last thing this council needs. I was very disappointed in his response to question 3. There were no executive session agenda items on the subject. The council needs independent thinkers, that can follow the logic of a situation.

Melissa Barrow leaves me hope there is someone who can think independently and is needed on the current council. My feel is she is not a rubber-stamper.

The Kennedale Observer recommends MELISSA BARROW.

# # # # # # # # # # #

Leftovers:

The “Investigation” was listed on the executive session agenda for the October 21 meeting. Council Member Kobeck came out of executive session and made the motion to waive the attorney-client privilege and release the investigation report to the public. That motion was approved, 4-0.

We have taken the .pdf Investigation Report and converted to text (far from 100% perfect) and tried to make improvements at: http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_13.html .

Previous Analysis:

Results: The evidence does NOT confirm…

See the November 9, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Witch Hunt?

See the November 16, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Jeff Nevarez interview – Our Part I

See the November 16, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Jeff Nevarez interview – Our Part II

See the November 23, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Was the Investigation Hi-jacked by the city attorney and city manager?

See the November 30, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Pay to Play Scandal

See the December 7, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Wandell Investigation Files

See the December 14, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Lack of Accountability/Afraid to Speak

See the December 21, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Griffith vs. Hull – “The Threat”

See the January 4, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Chamber Vote

See the January 11, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Hiring Austin Degenhart

See the January 18, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

City Manager has Favorites?

See the January 25, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Our Commentary

See the February 1, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

“No Shame” Griffith

See the February 15, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

# # # # # # # # # # #

Last Week

There were no meetings last week.

This Week

The Keep Kennedale Beautiful (KKB) will meet on Tuesday (agenda). The Parks Board will also meet on Tuesday (agenda).

Public Hearings

On April 23, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ26-04, amending the sign ordinance. This will go before the city council on May 19.

On ???, the city council will hold a public hearing for ordinance #795 to prohibit the exposure of children to illegal drugs.

On ???, the city council will hold a public hearing for ordinance #796 for adopting speed limits on certain roadways.

EDC

The next Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Board meeting should be on Tuesday, April 28.

P&Z

The Thursday, April 23 meeting has been reestablished. There will be a public hearing on an amendment to the sign ordinance.

Other News....

Is He Really a Kennedale Resident?

Let us start with stating without question that the Kennedale Observer does NOT condone or encourage stalking.

This starts with two e-mails that Mr. Griffith did not respond to.

Subject: Do you wish to comment?

Mr. Griffith,

It has been reported to me that most of the past year that your truck has spent the night on Bowen Road in Arlington, putting some question on your Kennedale residency for the past year.

Do you wish to comment?

Richard Weber

Then I started the article in last week's newsletter with “I have received a report” and in the next paragraph would state, “I have NOT stated that it is a fact. I do not have the tons of necessary documentation to state that as a fact.” “Report” in that opening is referencing the “It has been reported to me” in the e-mails.

Somehow, Mr. Griffith has incorrectly defined “report” as a large stalking report. NO stalking report exists. Again, the Kennedale Observer does NOT condone or encourage stalking.

Imagine a TV report where the official is refusing to respond to a question because of the appearance of evidence against that official. Now imagine that situation with no TV cameras.

In my opinion that is what we have here; Mr. Griffith's appearance of living in Arlington during the past year should make him not eligible to run for Kennedale City Council. He certainly appears to be avoiding comment on the situation. Is it possible a reasonable explanation exists? Certainly, but Mr. Griffith has not offered it.

So, it appears that in order to deflect attention away from the situation, he has used a different definition of “report” in order to draw sympathy from his base and play a “stalking” card. Again, to my knowledge, NO stalking report exists. I do not possess, have never possessed, nor believe any such document has ever existed.

In my opinion Kennedale voters are being duped by Mr. Griffith.

Chamber of Commerce

The Kennedale Area Chamber of Commerce has concluded operations. [ https://mailchi.mp/bb4e0f67ceca/future-of-the-chamber?e=b408c67838 ] It has been reported to me that there is work being done to reestablish the Chamber.

[Commentary: Brian Johnson, candidate for Mayor, was president. Bryant Griffith, candidate for Place 2, was vice-president. I do not know enough to flat out say 100% for sure it is their fault, but it surely does not look good when the Chamber has been able to survive on a shoestring budget for many, many years in the past and is now shutting down. The pair knew of Chamber's finances when they took their positions of power and are now shutting it down. It certainly gives the impression that the pair loves spending other people's money--the last thing I would want from my mayor and council. ??? Does anyone else find it alarming that Mr. Griffith closes the Kennedale Chamber and is on Facebook posting about his work at the Arlington Chamber (Facebook link)?]

TAD Rates

Tarrant Appraisal District has published the tax rates (October 2025) for the county. Kennedale has now dropped to the eighth highest municipality. [https://www.tad.org/content/rates/2025TaxRates.pdf ].

Top eleven of 41 (everyone else is < 0.65)

1. Everman 1.0260800

2. Sansom Park 0.8457840

3. Blue Mound 0.8138000

4. River Oaks 0.7439910

5. Burleson 0.7218000

6. White Settlement 0.7147780

7. Forest Hill 0.7004660

8. Kennedale 0.6961900

9. Pelican Bay 0.6762930

10. Fort Worth 0.6700000

11. Grand Prairie 0.6600000