FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth City Council Member Chris Nettles is under fire after an audio recording surfaced online in which he can be heard calling Mayor Mattie Parker and other council members "racist."
Nettles, who has represented the city since 2021, addressed the controversy on Monday, while Mayor Parker condemned the comments, stating, "Fort Worth deserves better."
The recording, which Nettles says is about two years old, was posted online by a former colleague who aided in his successful 2021 election campaign, he told the Fort Worth Magazine.
The recording: "I did... I called every Republican a racist. Sure did. And we'll say it again. Donald Trump. Michael Crain. Mattie Parker. Carlos Flores," Nettles can be heard saying.
In a statement issued Monday, Nettles confirmed it was him in the recording, emphasizing that it was made without his consent during a private conversation. He explained that the comments came as he was "...grappling with the realization that the Council would not have the votes to approve the creation of a police oversight board…" toward the end of 2022.
When the 5-4 vote was done not to implement a police oversight board, Nettles suggested on the record that not creating one was racist.
Nettles further clarified, saying: "I want to be clear: I do not believe that my fellow council members are racist. I do, however, feel that there are systemic processes in our city that can and should be improved…" to ensure fairness for all residents.
The council members named in the recording — Michael Crain, Carlos Flores, and Mayor Mattie Parker — still serve alongside Nettles.
Crain told WFAA that Nettles had reached out to him to apologize after making his statement during the council deliberation in 2022. Carlos Flores could not be reached for comment. Mayor Parker, however, offered a strong rebuke:
"Leadership means you attack problems, not people. Fort Worth deserves better."
Nettles, up for re-election next May, told Fort Worth Magazine that this incident marks the beginning of an effort to unseat him.