MAGNOLIA, Texas – Magnolia Mayor Matthew Dantzer is now facing a federal lawsuit on top of an ongoing Texas Rangers investigation.
KPRC 2 News reporter Corley Peel was at Magnolia City Hall where a special meeting was expected to take place Tuesday night. The meeting was canceled after officials said not enough council members showed up to form a quorum. According to the agenda, the council was set to vote on whether to give the mayor pro tem day-to-day supervisory authority over certain city employees, effectively limiting Dantzer’s direct contact with city staff, but the meeting never happened.
“I think it’s real convenient. I believe it’s planned. They didn’t want to deal with it,” said Bryan Emery, fiancé of City Secretary Christian Gable.
Dantzer is under investigation by the Texas Rangers after Gable filed a complaint saying he sexually harassed her and grabbed her by the throat while she was pregnant during a work conference in Fort Worth in October. He has not been charged with a crime.
Gable recently returned from maternity leave and was hoping to learn Tuesday whether she could work remotely until Dantzer’s term ends in May.
“She’s scared. It’s intimidating as hell. She locks her doors closed,” Emery said.
Emery also expressed frustration that the city has not taken action to protect his fiancée.
“They have done nothing to keep the mayor out of here,” he said.
KPRC 2 News obtained a federal complaint filed by the city’s former Human Resources Director, who says she was pushed out of her job after reporting that Dantzer allegedly attacked Gable. The former employee is suing for First Amendment retaliation, city-wide policy failure and violation of the Texas Whistleblower Act against the city.
The city attorney declined to comment on the ongoing investigation involving Dantzer.
When Corley reached Dantzer by phone last week, he responded, “I’m not a Texas Ranger, you’ll have to talk to them or Leonard Schindler,” before ending the call.
Dantzer’s attorney has now released a statement saying the mayor denies all allegations and is asking for privacy and patience.
Since Dantzer has not been charged with a crime at this time, Emery said he has a direct message for the mayor.
“I want him to know he’s not getting away with hurting my wife and my child as far as I’m concerned,” Emery said.
It is unclear when the special meeting will be rescheduled. The next regular council meeting is April 14. KPRC 2 News will continue to follow this story.