Donations, Endorsements, and Iftars: City Officials’ Connections to the McKinney Islamic Association

New evidence released by Collin County Precinct Chair Rachel Elliott documents campaign contributions, political endorsements, Islamic-event attendance, and other interactions between McKinney elected officials and the McKinney Islamic Association before the City Council’s Aug. 4 vote approving the organization’s proposed mosque site plan. 

The McKinney City Council voted 7-0 to approve the site plan for a new McKinney Islamic Association facility at 5301, 5311, and 5321 Virginia Parkway after hours of public testimony. City records state that the proposed project complied with applicable zoning and development requirements. 

Documents and videos compiled by Elliott show that multiple council members, the current mayor, and former Mayor George Fuller had documented interactions with the association, including campaign donations, endorsements, religious events, proclamations, and appearances at organization events. 

Council Member Geré Feltus Was Endorsed by Muslim Organization 

During Geré Feltus’ 2025 re-election campaign, she was endorsed by the Good Citizens PAC of DFW, a political action committee and advocacy organization focused on empowering American Muslims in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  

The organization’s 2025 voting guide identified Feltus as a candidate who would advance its agenda. 

Elliott questioned how Feltus received the endorsement and whether any commitments were made in connection with the PAC’s support. 

Feltus responded to the accusations on Facebook, calling the post and questions “absurd” and saying they don’t “deserve a rebuttal.” 

“I have never been approached by any Muslim group asking me to “advance their agenda” and I’m not aware of a voting guide by this group. I have never request to be included in anybody’s voter guide, but an array of those guides are created every election season. Clearly, I work hard enough to earn votes even when I’m not aware of it. I’d like to think it’s because people have come to understand that I lead with integrity,” Feltus wrote. “But I am glad that you are admitting this is about the mosque, because it’s always been about the mosque. Voters have been misled into believing it’s about every other hot topic issue in McKinney.” 

“But bigotry is pushing your entire agenda and you’ll manipulate any piece of information you can get your hands on and create lies to further that agenda. I upheld the Constitution. I stand firmly behind every decision I’ve made and I will make no apologies for them,” Feltus added. 

Mayor Cox Receives Thousands From MIA 

McKinney Mayor Bill Cox received $6,450 in campaign contributions from members of the McKinney Islamic Association, according to campaign finance records reviewed by Elliott. 

Prior to the Aug. 4 vote, Cox made a Ramadan proclamation recognizing the Muslim Prophet Mohammed and proclaiming Feb. 17 through March 19, 2026, as the Month of Ramadan in the city.  

At the beginning of the March 17, 2026, City Council meeting, Mehdi Elofir delivered the invocation before Cox presented the Ramadan proclamation. Elofir’s invocation referenced “our Muslim faith” and included prayers for city leaders. 

Cox also attended MIA’s iftar Ramadan dinner at the mosque.  

Elliott argues that the sequence of events raises questions because Cox received the campaign contributions before issuing the proclamation and attending the dinner. 

Cox did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication. 

Council Members Say They Attended Iftar Dinner 

Councilman Justin Beller, who moved to approve the mosque relocation on Aug. 4, said during the meeting he had “visited their existing campus” and had “several friends that I know and trust, who attend regularly and undoubtedly are an asset to the community.” 

In a video posted to Facebook capturing moments from various council meetings, Councilman Patrick Cloutier said during the March 17, 2026, meeting that he, Beller, Councilman Ernest Lynch, City Manager Paul Grimes, and Cox all attended the MIA iftar dinner. 

Cloutier later acknowledged on Facebook that he had attended multiple iftar dinners hosted by the McKinney Islamic Association. 

“I did go to an Iftar dinner during Ramadan with the MIA. It was at Old Settlers. I think this is my third IFTAR with MIA. Once at their mosque on Eldorado. Once at Gather. I’ve also done two with the Dawoodi Bohra mosque on Tennessee just north of highway 5.  

Cloutier said the events were among numerous religious gatherings he had attended as a city council member. 

“I’ve learned a lot about Islam and met a bunch of them in my 5 years on council. Both of these mosques typically invite us to one Iftar per year. I’m a Christian. There are an assortment of Christians at the ones I’ve been to. Mainly political, law enforcement and faith leaders.” 

Cloutier also said he had attended events at Baptist and Episcopal churches, Latter-day Saints gatherings, and menorah lightings. 

Former Mayor George Fuller Had Years of Interactions With MIA 

Documentation provided by Elliott shows that former Mayor George Fuller had a yearslong civic relationship with the McKinney Islamic Association during his tenure as mayor. 

In April 2018, during Fuller’s first mayoral term, he invited MIA Imam Al-Gebaly to deliver the invocation at the City Council meeting.  

In May 2023, Al-Gebaly was again invited to deliver an invocation at the McKinney Community Development Corporation meeting. City records identify Al-Gebaly as the director of the Islamic Tribunal of North Texas and associate him with MIA. 

In March 2024, during Fuller’s last term as mayor, he issued the first documented Ramadan proclamation for March 11 through April 9, 2024. The proclamation referenced the Quran and Muhammed as a prophet. 

Fuller didn’t stop with recognizing Islamic holidays. In April 2024, Fuller also participated in the McKinney Islamic Association’s groundbreaking ceremony for its future mosque. During the event, Fuller said the “Muslim community in McKinney is cherished” and that it was important for him to attend to demonstrate his support for the community. He also congratulated the organization on “taking a big step” with the property.  

Councilman Beller was also mentioned as having attended the groundbreaking. 

Under Fuller’s leadership, Al-Gebaly once again opened another City Council meeting, with an invocation that referenced Allah and included a recitation from the Quran. During the same meeting, Fuller issued another Ramadan proclamation. 

Fuller responded to the post, saying the material being presented as “new evidence” was instead a collection of “ordinary civic activities.” 

“When the facts aren’t sensational enough, sensationalize the presentation. When the evidence doesn’t support the accusation, ask a loaded question and leave the accusation hanging. When the law doesn’t support the narrative, pivot to something more inflammatory,” Fuller wrote. “And because I attended MIA events, issued Ramadan proclamations, defended the constitutional rights of Muslim residents and spoke publicly in favor of following the law, this is characterized as an ‘8 Year documented intimate civic advocacy relationship.’ Really?” 

Fuller also argued that there was a double standard in questioning elected officials for attending Muslim events. 

“There is also a troubling double standard here. Attend a Christian church and nobody suggests you’re ‘compromised’ by Christians. Attend a synagogue and nobody assumes you’ve been compromised by Jews,” Fuller wrote. But attend an Iftar with Muslim constituents and suddenly your impartiality is suspect. Recognize Ramadan and it becomes evidence against you. Know Muslim residents personally and those friendships become suspicious.” 

Questions Remain About Officials Relationships with MIA 

Elliott’s post also challenges statements made during the Aug. 4 debate about MIA’s history in McKinney and the organization’s characterization by council members and others as having a longstanding presence in the city. 

“McKinney City Council told the public that MIA had a 30 year peaceful history and they weren’t ‘extremist.’ The public record suggests otherwise,” Elliott’s post says. “Their current and only mosque dates to 2014. Yes some founders lived in Texas in 1997 or had a small one room prayer room prior (where the “near 30 year” figure comes from) but 2014 is the better start date 12 years ago.”

The records and statements reviewed by the Daily Signal document years of interactions between McKinney elected officials and the McKinney Islamic Association, including campaign contributions, political endorsements, invitations to religious events, public proclamations, and appearances at MIA events. 

Those connections do not, by themselves, establish that any council member promised favorable treatment to the McKinney Islamic Association or that the Aug. 4 vote was influenced by those relationships. Rather, they raise questions as to whether the public had a complete picture of the connections between city officials and the Islamic organization. 

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