Ahead of the regular commissioner’s court meeting on Dec. 8, Lubbock County Judge Curtis Parrish unexpectedly declared the Precinct 2 county commissioner office “vacant,” and appointed Mark Meurer of Slaton to take the seat.
On Dec. 2, the precinct’s elected commissioner, Jason Corley, formally announced his campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives' District 19 congressional seat, currently held by Jodey Arrington. This came more than two weeks after Corley announced he was exploring a possible run for Congress.
The day after Arrington announced he would not run for reelection after serving in Congress since 2016, Corley announced his “exploratory committee” to assess public support for his own campaign. Parrish, however, said the exploratory announcement came with campaign graphics that indicated Corley may have already made a decision.
“This email was sent by Jason Corley from a quote ‘Corley for Congress' email address,” Parrish said. “Attached to the press release were two 'Corley for Congress' campaign graphics, a 'Corley for Congress' Post Office Box in Slaton, and a media contact person also using [the] ‘Corley for Congress' email address.”
Parrish said these and other communications from Corley in November constituted an “affirmative action” for candidacy and an automatic resignation for Corley under Texas’ “resign-to-run” law.
“The Texas Constitution Article 16, §65 states that if a county commissioner becomes a candidate in fact, for quote, 'any office of profit or trust' prior to one year and 30 days before the expiration of their term of office, then such candidacy constitutes, quote, 'an automatic resignation of the office then held,'” Parrish said.
Corley’s four-year term began on Jan. 1, 2023, and will expire on Dec. 31, 2026.
In a statement, Corley described the judge’s announcement as a “corrupt power grab.” Corley said the campaign graphics came from his previous attempt to run for Congress in 2016, and that he specifically consulted with lawyers about the campaign in relation to his position on the commissioner’s court.
A lawsuit was immediately filed against Meurer, saying Corley did not resign his position.
This is not the first point of conflict between Corley and Parrish. Read a detailed breakdown of their contentious relationship from the Texas Tribune here.
According to the lawsuit, Corley was called to Parrish’s office an hour before the Dec. 8 commissioner’s court meeting, where Corley was met by two Lubbock County Sheriff Deputies and Parrish, who “attempted to expel Corley from office.” The lawsuit states Parrish presented Corley with a release about the resignation before going to the commissioner’s courtroom to swear in Meurer as the new County Commissioner for Precinct 2.
Parrish stated that his appointment of Meurer was acting under the authority granted to him by the Constitution and Texas law.
Corley’s lawsuit states that the date of his campaign announcement on Dec. 2, leaving one year and 29 days in his term, would not trigger an automatic resignation. Corley officially filed for candidacy on Dec. 3.
The lawsuit alleges that "Meurer usurps, intrudes into, or unlawfully holds the office of County Commissioner for Lubbock County Precinct 2,” and asks that Meurer be cited to appear in court. The suit also called for a temporary restraining order against Meurer taking actions as county commissioner.
Shortly after the lawsuit was filed in the 237th District Court in Lubbock, Judge Les Hatch recused himself from the case, and Amarillo District Court Judge Patrick Pirtle was assigned.
On Dec. 10, Pirtle denied the temporary restraining order, but a hearing has been set to determine if Meurer can serve as the commissioner until a final decision is made.
The hearing will take place at the Lubbock County Courthouse at 10 a.m. on Dec. 19.