Lubbock County Commissioner and congressional candidate Jason Corley is fighting back after County Judge Curtis Parrish purportedly removed him from office over alleged “resign to run” rules that Corley says do not apply. A court hearing in the case is set for December 19.
Just before the start of the Lubbock County Commissioners Court meeting on Monday, Parrish swore in Mark Meurer as the “new” Precinct 2 commissioner.
Corley told Texas Scorecard that instead of being allowed to participate in the meeting as usual, sheriff’s deputies had him clean out his office, then walked him out of the building.
Parrish claimed that Corley resigned his office when he announced a run for the 19th Congressional District, a seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington (R–Lubbock).
Corley contends that he did not officially announce his congressional run until after the statutory deadline that triggers an automatic resignation of a state or county officeholder, which happens if an official has more than one year and one month remaining in their current term of office.
Corley’s current term ends on December 31, 2026.
He also argues that the state’s resign-to-run rule does not apply to officeholders seeking a federal office.
Commissioner Corley immediately sued Meurer—the legally required path to challenging the appointment.
Corley is asking the court to determine that he, not Meurer, is entitled to hold the office of county commissioner for Lubbock County Precinct 2 and exercise its functions.
A judge denied Corley’s request for an immediate temporary restraining order against Parrish’s action.
But a hearing on a temporary injunction is now set for December 19 at 10:00 a.m. in the 237th District Court in Lubbock.
The case was assigned to 7th Court of Appeals Judge Pat Pirtle as a visiting judge, after Judge Les Hatch recused himself.
Corley was first elected as the Lubbock County commissioner for Precinct 2 in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022—both times by overwhelming margins over his Democrat opponents.
Parrish was also first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, but by narrower margins.
Since then, Parrish and Corley have butted heads over issues including county spending and property taxes.
Corley told Texas Scorecard that Curtis is trying to have him thrown out of office to keep him from participating in next year’s tax vote and other votes on issues important to his Precinct 2 constituents.
In 2024 and 2025, Corley and other commissioners blocked property tax increases backed by Parrish.
Corley also believes Parrish’s action is politically motivated, stating that Meurer is working on the campaign of Precinct 2 commissioner candidate Kevin Pounds.
Some constituents are also unhappy with Parrish over his recent—and past—actions.
“Whether you like Corley or not, keeping the man who the people elected is important,” said Lubbock County conservative activist Jim Baxa.
“It’s time to retire the Bowtie Bully and get someone fresh on as county judge,” Lubbock County resident Cyndi Acuff posted on social media, using a nickname referring to Parrish’s penchant for wearing bow ties.
Last year, Acuff and others were disparaged by Parrish as “crazy kooks” for urging commissioners to cut county spending and taxes.
Parrish will face Wesley Houck in the March Republican primary for Lubbock County Judge.
Corley added that after his anticipated court win on December 19, he may file suit against Parrish for interfering with the duties of an elected official.
“I’m not happy this happened, but I’m glad everyone now sees what’s going on,” said Corley.
