EXCLUSIVE: Embattled Big Spring Mayor Goes on the Record About His Recall

BIG SPRING, TX – The Mayor of Big Spring, Shannon Thomason, sat down with San Angelo LIVE! on Friday to give his explanation on the drama that is going on within the City of Big Spring. 

As previously reported, on August 20, a city council member in Big Spring alleged in an interview with CBS 7 that Thomason impersonated himself as the city secretary by sending an email to the media regarding the recall affidavits of two separate council members. (See: Big Spring Mayor Accused of Impersonating City Secretary).

After we mentioned this, San Angelo LIVE! was offered an exclusive interview by the Mayor to set the record straight. 

The interview started with the simple question. Did the Mayor impersonate the city secretary? He insured us that no he did not impersonate the secretary but instead had a public notice issued from the secretary's office regarding recent recall affidavits. He admitted to having an employee of the secretary's office write the notice and that he wrongfully used the secretary's name. 

He claimed the reason was to maintain complete transparency of the city. Thomason claimed that when the secretary's office received an affidavit for the recall of Big Spring Council Members Camila Strande, District 5, and Jim DePauw, District 6, that only the those members were alerted of the affidavits. He said neither the city manager or the assistant city manager were alerted, which is against their city rules. Thomason also claims the only reason he used the city secretary's name was he was using the secretary's office to make the announcement. 

Thomason is up for a recall election in November. A number of complaints have emerged, including his yelling and cussing at city employees, that are the reasons for the recall. Thomason laughed when asked about it. He says that it was laughable because he is a smoker.

"If I yelled at anyone for more than five minutes I'd kill over dead," said Thomason.

He did speak about an example where he did raise his voice at the City Attorney after he found out that they had lied to him about a certain issue. 

Overall the Mayor seems confident that with the changes and big things he said he has brought to Big Spring are more well known and understood he will win his recall election.