Three officials surrender on open meetings violations
Nov. 22—The drama continues in the tiny hamlet of Hawk Cove. At least when it comes to the Hawk Cove City Council.
Three members of the current council surrendered at the Hunt County Detention Center on Thursday morning after warrants were issued for their arrest by the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
Mayor Delores Marlow Spence and council members Mark Allen Beatte (Place Four) and Rebecca Lea Bernardi (Place One) were charged with one count each of violating the state Open Meetings Act and one charge each of conspiracy to circumvent for secret deliberation — both Class C misdemeanors. Bond was set for $25,000 for each charge and each defendant.
The arrest warrants come after an investigation by the AG’s Office concerning a meeting held in November of 2023.
On Tuesday the three were also served with civil notification after former mayor Darren Evans and former council member Amanda Bodiford submitted a petition for removal of Spence, 65; Beatte, 66; and Bernardi, 59. Bodiford was defeated in the just-completed council election earlier this month, losing to Sherry Logan.
It was just this past May when a council meeting turned into a bit of a melee that ultimately ended with the arrests of five people; including then-council member Tiffany Dawn Browning who was charged with a third-degree felony assaulting a peace officer among other charges. She was indicted in October.
