The Magnolia City Council opted to make yet another controversial decision when they chose a relative unknown to fill a vacant spot on the council despite the community’s support for what they believed to be a qualified candidate.

Magnolia resident Christopher Schod was appointed to City Council Position 3 June 8 after a 3-1 vote by the Council.

The appointment came after six people spoke before the council recommending Basil Tate be named to the Council, including Magnolia’s first mayor, Cedric Smith and former Magnolia ISD Board President Glenn Addison.

“I have always been impressed by him (Tate),” Addison told the council. “I believe he would be a great asset to the council.”

Council member John Bramlett made a motion to appoint Tate to the Council, but the motion died for lack of a second.

Following the failed motion, Council member Patsy Williams made a motion to appoint Schod, which was seconded by Jody Sanders.

Bramlett was the lone dissenting vote in the 3-1 decision to appoint Schod to the vacant seat.

Williams initially said she had no comment on why she chose Schod to fill the seat left vacant after Todd Kana was elected Mayor.

She later said that she thinks Schod “will be an asset to the City of Magnolia.”

“I based my decision on what was best for the entire City of Magnolia,” Williams said. “I certainly did not want Mr. Tate to be embarrassed and I’m sorry that he was and it was very unfortunate and it was uncalled for.”

Williams released a statement to the Tribune June 10 regarding her decision to appoint Schod to the council.

“My concern was that in recent weeks we have been threatened with lawsuits stemming from a perceived conflict of interest between a council member, John Bramlett, and his affiliation as a board member of his homeowner’s association.

“Mr. Tate is also affiliated with the board of the same homeowner’s association. I regret any public embarrassment to Mr. Tate. He is a fine man and a dedicated, capable and hardworking member of our community. However, I felt that Mr. Chris Schod would bring a more balanced and a wider representation to our community and to the Magnolia City Council.”

According to the Montgomery County Appraisal District, Bramlett, Council member Jody Sanders and Council Member Sammie Scott are all homeowners in Windmill Estates.

Bramlett was unable to be reached for comment.

Sanders said a possible conflict of interest did not factor into his vote.

“If Basil was installed, that would have been four people in Windmill Estates,” he said. “That didn’t influence my vote whatsoever. I had never really thought about it till now, but I can see now how people would think someone was trying to take control.”

“I feel like under the circumstances, I did the right thing. In my campaign I said I want to do what is best for the city as a whole, not just a few and that’s what influenced my vote.”

He added that he “personally didn’t see that it would have been a conflict of interest.”

Tate said he is not a member of the Windmill Estates Homeowner’s Association and that there is “absolutely not” a conflict of interest.

“I guess I could say I was disappointed; surprised is a better word,” Tate said regarding the appointment. “I have tried to keep things in focus in my life and I’ve been pretty consistent about city council meetings.

“I believe someone is trying to put up a smoke screen or present things that are not the issue to take away from what happened Tuesday night. It was so evident from my view.”

Kana supported the council’s decision to appoint Schod to his former seat, of which he has one year left in the position’s two-year term.

“I think his (Schod’s) business isn’t necessarily a requirement to make decisions on behalf of the city, but I think it helps as far as budgeting and stuff,” said Kana. “He’s a family man and I think he’ll do well.”

Schod, who has lived in Magnolia for 11 years, said he has attended a city council meeting before, but that he doesn’t often attend because of work constraints.

“It’s been requested I come to a few city council meetings,” Schod said. “I’ve been putting in seven days a week for the last six years. My wife and I have pretty much been preoccupied with putting together a successful business.”

He said he will bring levelheadedness and fiscal conservatism to the council.

“I’m not affiliated with any one person,” he said. “I like spending my money, but I don’t like spending anybody else’s money. I’d like to investigate and figure out where the money’s going and why we need to spend it.”

The new council member said the possibility of him being appointed to the council “was discussed” and talked about but “not recently.”

Schod said he has always been interested in politics, but has never held a position on a governmental body or organization. He said he is not involved in any community organizations or committees and is primarily focused on his family.

“Taking care of my kids, that’s basically it,” he said. “I’ve worked hard at staying married for the past 26 years.”

Originally from Michigan, Schod has spent most of his life as an electrician and owns Extreme Electrical Services, Inc. in Houston.

Schod is married and has three children.

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