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Why We're Seeking Recall
The case against John Sellars
Voted August 13, 2026 to block a binding public referendum on Flock
surveillance, denying Conroe voters a direct say on a program they
were never told about.
The Flock referendum maneuver
Sellars co-sponsored a citizens' advisory committee to study the Flock
program with Kristin Hoisington. At the July 23, 2026 meeting where
they introduced it, Hoisington moved to table the proposal
indefinitely, and it died in a unanimous vote Sellars joined. No
oversight committee was ever formed. The existing Flock contract
continued uninterrupted.
Development industry ties
Sellars is the Chief Financial Officer of Stoecker Corporation, a Montgomery County land
development company.
In May 2025, a year before he was elected, he personally testified
before city council lobbying against a citywide development
moratorium. The Greater Houston Builders Association publicly thanked
him by name for the advocacy that got it paused.
On July 24, 2026, council considered raising Conroe's minimum lot size
from 45×120 feet to 65×120 feet. Sellars, along with Ken Blevins and
Kristin Hoisington, voted against the increase, keeping the smaller
lot minimum in place.
Asked about the conflict, Sellars confirmed he'd gotten calls urging
him to recuse himself given his employer's business, but declined:
"I never promised to recuse myself from every issue that could
generally affect the development industry. What I consistently said
is I would recuse myself from matters involving my employer that come
before the City Council."
He said Stoecker Corp. has no projects currently within Conroe's city
limits.
Overlapping water-board seats
He also sits on the board of the Conroe Industrial Development
Corporation (CIDC), a city economic-development body. At CIDC's
August 5, 2024 meeting, he voted to approve $22.5 million in funding
for two new water wells, telling the board: "I'm fully behind this.
Infrastructure needs of our city are not just the foundation of
economic development but a necessity."
Sellars and his employer, Michael Stoecker, both sit on the San
Jacinto River Authority's Groundwater Reduction Plan (GRP) Review
Committee, Sellars as the City of Conroe's appointee and Stoecker
representing private well owners.
Sources:
Houston Chronicle, "Conroe won't put Flock camera measure on November ballot" ·
Houston Chronicle, "Conroe City Council backs Flock cameras despite residents' opposition" ·
Houston Chronicle, "CIDC provides $22.5M for Conroe water wells" ·
San Jacinto River Authority, GRP Review Committee roster ·
Greater Houston Builders Association, "City of Conroe Pauses Citywide Development Moratorium Effort" ·
Houston Chronicle, "Conroe residential lots will maintain 45-foot minimum width after council vote"