Tatum council votes to remove city secretary amid City Hall dispute
Published 5:35 am Sunday, September 27, 2026
TATUM — Weeks of turmoil inside Tatum City Hall culminated Wednesday with the City Council voting to remove City Secretary Jacqueline “Jackie” Muckleroy.
Councilman Wendell Moore cast the lone vote against Muckleroy’s removal, defending her job performance and questioning what had changed since the council previously praised her work.
Tate Smith, serving as acting mayor pro tem following Mayor Michael Henry’s resignation, presided over the meeting and did not participate in the 3-1 vote.
The council formally accepted Henry’s resignation earlier during Wednesday’s meeting.
The personnel dispute unfolded against a broader backdrop of allegations and counter-allegations involving Muckleroy, Police Chief James Smith and members of the council.
Documents show Muckleroy had submitted formal complaints alleging misconduct by James Smith, Tate Smith and Councilman Robin Palmer and said she had invoked protections under the Texas Whistleblower Act.
The allegations have not been established as fact, and no findings by a court or investigative agency substantiating them were presented during Wednesday’s meeting.
The city of Tatum’s website lists the city secretary’s responsibilities as maintaining official records, preparing and posting meeting agendas, serving as the city’s election official and performing other duties required by the council or state law. Muckleroy also served as finance director, with responsibilities including payroll, personnel administration, budgeting, financial reporting, risk management and preparation of the city’s annual audit.
The conflict dominated the public comment portion of Wednesday’s meeting.
Resident Dennis Trout questioned the turnover he has witnessed during his five years in Tatum and criticized the push to remove Muckleroy.
“I’ve seen three police chiefs get run out of here,” Trout said. “I’ve seen now one mayor get out or get forced to resign. Now you guys are wanting to get rid of a city secretary for loss of confidence.”
Police chief’s complaint
The controversy had come before the council publicly two weeks earlier, when James Smith filed a complaint against Muckleroy alleging workplace harassment, targeting and unauthorized conduct.
In his complaint, the police chief accused Muckleroy of involving herself in personnel and investigative matters outside what he considered her authority and claimed her actions had created an adversarial workplace environment. His allegations included releasing personal information, requiring employees to sign letters, placing the court clerk under her supervision and obtaining security-camera footage related to a police matter.
Muckleroy disputed the allegations and maintained she was performing duties assigned to her position.
The dispute subsequently expanded as Muckleroy filed her own complaints concerning James Smith and council members.
Among the newly provided documents is a six-page complaint dated Sept. 14 from Muckleroy to Rusk County District Attorney Micheal Jimerson alleging misconduct by James Smith.
The complaint accuses him of falsification of government records, coercion of a public servant, false arrest, abuse of official capacity, official oppression, obstruction of due process and improper influence.
One of the most serious allegations involves a police report.
Muckleroy alleged Sgt. Bobby Jones reported that James Smith ordered him to change a burglary report to reflect facts that were not true and that Jones refused because he considered the directive unlawful. Her complaint states that she possessed text messages concerning the alleged request and alleged other witnesses could corroborate it.
The complaint also alleges Jones feared retaliation after refusing to alter the report.
Muckleroy further accused James Smith of attempting to remove a council member from an investigative process after that council member sought to speak with employees regarding allegations against Smith. Muckleroy’s complaint characterized that as an effort to prevent witnesses from being heard and interfere with governmental oversight.
Muckleroy also alleged the police chief encouraged individuals to run for City Council so they could become, in the complaint’s wording, his “direct boss,” and accused him of attempting to influence the composition of the governing body for his own job security or influence.
The complaint additionally accuses James Smith of intervening in custody matters involving political allies and attempting to influence governmental processes for personal or political reasons.
Complaints involving Tate Smith
Muckleroy also filed a formal complaint Sept. 14 concerning Tate Smith.
An email transmitting the complaint to the city attorney accused him of abuse of official capacity and official oppression and described what Muckleroy characterized as a pattern of misuse of authority, interference in municipal operations and targeted conduct toward employees performing their duties.
Muckleroy separately sent information concerning Tate Smith to the Rusk County DA.
In her letter to the district attorney, Muckleroy said her supporting materials included text messages between Tate Smith and Henry, the former mayor, as well as statements from city employees and residents. In addition, Mucklery provided documentation she characterized as evidence of retaliation and intimidation and records she said related to alleged illegal voting activity.
She asked Jimerson, the Rusk County DA, to examine allegations involving abuse of official capacity, official oppression, coercion of a public servant, possible Texas Open Meetings Act violations, illegal voting or voter fraud, retaliation and intimidation.
Muckleroy alleged Tatue Smith used his elected position to pressure Henry, interfere with statutory duties and attempt to control the handling of questions concerning his own voter eligibility.
The city of Tatum’s published election requirements state that a council member must have resided within the city and territory from which the office is elected for at least 12 months before Election Day and be registered to vote in the applicable county.
Muckleroy repeatedly raised that issue during Wednesday’s meeting, alleging Tate Smith had used multiple addresses to vote in Rusk County while residing in Panola County and questioning his eligibility to hold office.
No determination that Tatue Smith is ineligible to serve on the council was presented at the meeting. The Texas Municipal League’s current directory continues to list Smith as Tatum’s mayor pro tem.
Complaint involving Robin Palmer
Muckleroy also submitted a complaint concerning Councilman Robin Palmer to the district attorney.
In a Sept. 22 email to Jimerson, Muckleroy said she had prepared an evidence packet alleging a “sustained pattern” of conduct involving provisions of the Texas Penal Code, Election Code and Government Code. She formally invoked the Texas Whistleblower Act in connection with the submission.
Muckleroy told Jimerson she believed those materials also provided context surrounding Henry’s Sept. 10 resignation.
Her allegations involving Palmer included a dispute dating to December 2025 involving a notarization. Muckleroy alleged Palmer’s wife brought a document to City Hall and asked her to notarize Palmer’s signature when he was not present. Muckleroy said she refused and told Palmer he would have to personally appear.
Muckleroy claimed Palmer subsequently attempted to alter her duties and repeatedly sought her termination, actions she characterized as retaliation for refusing the notarization request.
Nine days before Wednesday’s meeting, Muckleroy sent council members a message warning that she believed the situation at City Hall had reached a critical point.
In the Sept. 14 email, she accused some council members of repeated “attacks, harassment, and bullying” and said calls for her termination were driv