On Oct. 6, 2025, the City of Rockwall City Council voted on nominations to fill two seats on the Rockwall Central Appraisal District board of directors for 2026–2029, after discussing the matter in executive session. The council unanimously approved a resolution nominating Richard Koepke. A later motion to nominate Rick Johnson failed on a 3–3 tie with Councilmember Cedric Thomas abstaining; the council then voted 4–3 to reappoint Thomas to one of the CAD seats.

The action followed an executive-session discussion described at the meeting as the councils responsibility to submit two names for four-year terms on the appraisal district board. Mayor Tim McCallum said he opposed reappointing a council member to the CAD because of optics, saying he did not "like the optics of having a city council member who is responsible for helping set the tax rate, who also then sits on a board, of our CAD." He moved to nominate Rick Johnson, a local real estate professional, as an alternative to Thomas.

Councilmember Cedric Thomas responded directly to the concern about optics and defended his record. "I have always served with integrity, on any boards," Thomas said, noting his focus on public safety and fiscal oversight during his tenure.

After the failed Johnson motion (tally recorded as 3–3, with Thomas abstaining), Councilmember John Lewis moved to nominate Cedric Thomas for reappointment; the motion passed 4–3, with Councilmembers Henson, McCallum and Jeffers recorded as voting against. The council did not take further action on expanding or changing the number of elected officials who serve on the CAD.

The councils debate repeatedly framed the decision as a matter of principle about elected officials participation on an entity that oversees property value appraisal rather than personal criticism of Thomas. Mayor McCallum reiterated that the concern was transparency and the perception of overlapping duties rather than an allegation of misconduct.

No ordinance or policy change was adopted in connection with the nominations. The council did not require any additional materials or reports before making the nominations.

The nominations concluded the action the council said it had discussed in executive session earlier in the meeting.