Michael Hackney Responds to Eastland City Commission Allegations

The Alliance Gazette has been following the Eastland City Commission closely since the May 18 commission meeting, when many allegations surfaced against members of the commission. Seeing as the allegations went against multiple members of the board, we have pursued each piece individually, assessing and interviewing the subjects at the core of the allegations.

This follow-up comes from Michael Hackney, who first had no comment to our first set of questions. After he sent a Letter to the Editor to Eastland County Today, we followed up with the following questions:

1. In your letter, you stated that former Mayor Vernon contacted the Texas Department of Agriculture, identified himself as Mayor of Eastland, and sought information about you, and that he also requested Sid Miller’s phone number. Is there any documentation, correspondence, or other evidence you can provide that supports these claims?
2. You described being interviewed by the Texas Rangers alongside other former TDA employees regarding Sid Miller and Todd Smith, and you gave your own account of disposing of marijuana at Miller’s request. Would you like to provide any further detail or context regarding those events and the allegations connected to them?
3. Your letter referenced comments made at the meeting by individuals named Brad Stephenson and Russ Thomason, including a reference to a walking quorum. Is there anything further you would like to share regarding those statements or the Open Meetings Act questions that have been raised?
4. Is there anything else you believe the community should know?

Commissioner Hackney scheduled a time to be interviewed to give his response. A full copy of his response was provided through The Alliance Gazette’s Google Drive folder linked from the original Facebook post. This article draws from his written response as well as statements made during the interview.

In response to question 1, Hackney replied that he was contacted by an individual from the TDA informing him that Larry Vernon had called asking questions. Although Hackney did not provide any source, citing legal advice, he said as he understands the situation, “He [Larry] did talk to Sid Miller and I am not privy to what conversations came out of that…”

In response to question 2, Hackney started off explaining that he, along with several others, was interviewed by the Texas Rangers as part of an investigation into Miller’s own hemp operation. This is where the Texas Tribune recording comes from in which Hackney admitted to dumping three small bags of marijuana. Hackney states that he was called in because he was “a personal friend. I was at the ranch. I roped with Sid, against Sid in competitions.” Hackney explains that he was there because Sid had asked him to oversee the cattle and horse operation on the ranch. “I was just there to help, I didn’t receive any money.”

Hackney asserts this is the end of the story. He was not selling or transporting any drugs, he simply threw away the three bags and left it alone from there. According to Hackney, the Rangers did not pursue the matter further, and the Texas Tribune previously reported that the Department of Public Safety determined the interview had no investigative value to the Todd Smith bribery case specifically. That determination concerned the relevance of the interview to the Smith investigation, not a review or finding regarding Hackney’s disposal of the bags.

In response to question 3, Hackney states that he and others in the community believe that Stephenson and Thomason were brought in to make comments “to influence the outcome of our election of officers.” Both Stephenson and Thomason have served as district attorneys.

Addressing the allegation that he intended to fire Savannah Fortenberry and Police Chief Tim Pitts, Hackney claims that he has never said that he would fire the city manager or the police chief. “It was all plotted,” Hackney said as he concluded on the subject of the allegation that he discussed the firings.

When pressed on the walking quorum question, Hackney claims “none of us conspired against LV,” referring to the allegations that Commissioners Williamson, Stuart, and Hackney met to discuss removing Vernon from the mayor role.

In response to question 4, Hackney wanted to emphasize his dedication to the community in which he has been heavily involved in with his church and numerous other organizations. Hackney hopes that the community can move beyond this and continue in a positive direction.

Hackney concluded his written statement with, “Our city needs unity, new ideas, bright leaders trying to help navigate the issues of positive growth, Christian values that guide our standards of living, all while raising our children in a safe, positive, environment. Our children are our future, lets invest in theirs…”

The claims Hackney makes regarding former Mayor Vernon, as well as the assertion that Brad Stephenson and Russ Thomason were brought in to influence the officer election, are Hackney’s own characterizations and have not been independently verified by The Alliance Gazette. We will be reaching out to Stephenson, Thomason, and Vernon to offer each of them an opportunity to respond to these allegations. Any responses received will be published in full.

Source note: Adapted from The Alliance Gazette Facebook post published June 9, 2026.