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LUBBOCK — A West Texas county commissioner with ambitions for higher office faced removal from his position this week. The county judge accused him of breaching the Texas Constitution, marking the latest chapter in an ongoing dispute between the two Republican officials.
Judge Curtis Parrish, the highest elected official in Lubbock County, ousted Commissioner Jason Corley from his role on Monday. This action followed Corley’s announcement of his candidacy for Congress, which occurred outside the constitutionally permitted timeline that would have allowed him to retain his position.
Corley stated that he was escorted out of the county courthouse by security. He is now pursuing legal action to reclaim his seat.
“I had to pack up as if my rent was due and leave immediately,” Corley remarked.
Parrish offered a less dramatic account of the situation, denying that he ordered Corley’s removal. Regardless, the outcome of Corley’s lawsuit could set precedents for future candidates and the 1950s-era constitutional amendment that mandates the resignation of elected officials when they declare their intent to run for a higher office, should their term not conclude within 395 days.
The ongoing conflict between Corley and Parrish has played out publicly for more than a year, with recent disputes centering on the county budget. The two have clashed over tax allocation and salary increases for county employees and elected officials.
Many observers believed Corley was positioning himself to challenge Parrish for his role as county judge, who presides over the five-member commissioners court and manages the emergency management department. The dynamics shifted when U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, a Republican from Lubbock, announced he would not seek reelection, paving the way for new GOP candidates in the region, including Corley.
Corley had formed an exploratory committee to assess support for his congressional bid in November and officially declared his candidacy on December 2—exactly one year and 29 days before his term as commissioner was set to expire.
This week’s incident was not the first confrontation between the two officials.
Last year, Corley, portraying himself as a staunch Republican willing to confront anyone for his constituents’ interests, staged a month-long walkout with another commissioner to prevent the county from exceeding the previous year’s tax revenue. They made it clear they would not attend meetings until a statutory deadline, which would maintain flat revenue levels for the county, passed. This maneuver resulted in the county needing to use $7.2 million from reserves to balance the budget for the following year.
The two faced off again this year over budget issues. Parrish sought to increase county revenue, while Corley argued that his constituents, including those in the city of Slaton, could not bear the burden of higher taxes. Corley received support from other commissioners, including a newly elected member who he deemed favorable.
In this instance, Corley emerged victorious.
At budget hearings, the conflict escalated, with Corley arguing with constituents and Parrish about taxes and pay raises necessary to retain county employees. Parrish maintained that certain employees, particularly the sheriff and clerks, needed increased compensation to ensure quality staff retention.
County employees attended at least one hearing during the discussions about their raises and cost-of-living adjustments. At one point, Corley asked the employees to raise their hands and posed the question, “Who is doing your jobs at this moment?” When they began to answer, he interrupted, clarifying it was a rhetorical question. Parrish permitted the employees to continue, which further irritated Corley.
In September, Parrish expressed concern to the Tribune about Corley’s damaging actions and how they exhibited a lack of respect for county employees, whom he considers the county’s most valuable asset. He fears the current budget discussions could negatively impact employee retention.
“Failing to support them or showing them contempt is a grave mistake,” Parrish stated. “It harms not only the employees but also the services provided to the residents of Lubbock County.”
Parrish emphasized that Lubbock County has one of the lowest tax rates in Texas and warned of challenging financial times ahead.
“I foresee a decrease in services,” he said. “As residents realize their services may be diminished, I believe there will be a demand for the commissioners court to balance lower taxes with good governance.”
A majority of commissioners, including Corley, opposed pay raises for most county staff, yet they did approve a 2% increase for themselves. Before the vote, Parrish proposed an amendment to forgo his raise and allocate it toward salary increases for other officials, such as the county treasurer and clerk. Two commissioners pledged to return their raises to the county’s budget.
Corley, however, accepted his raise.
“We’re providing this to elected officials because who do you want managing your county? Well-paid professionals or poorly compensated individuals?” Corley stated. “I want competent people in these roles.”
As the two Republicans embark on a new legal battle, the court’s decision may hold significant implications for others considering a future run for office.
Drew Landry, a government professor at South Plains College with a keen interest in Lubbock politics, suggested that the legal challenge might actually benefit Corley.
“He’s likely to leverage this situation to enhance his profile for Congress while simultaneously diminishing the county judge’s standing,” Landry noted. “It’s a dual-purpose strategy.”
In a recent interview, Parrish, who is also an attorney, asserted that Corley’s actions constituted an automatic resignation under the state constitution. The resign-to-run law mandates that county officials must resign if they declare their candidacy for a paid position more than one year and 30 days prior to the end of their current term. Corley’s term was set to conclude on December 31, 2026.
Corley announced his exploratory committee on November 12, using graphics for “Corley for Congress,” a P.O. box, and a media advisor with related email addresses. On November 15, he sent a text message to supporters announcing his congressional run, which he insists was a private conversation and not a public declaration.
Landry remarked that the Texas Constitution does not clearly define when a candidate becomes a candidate, implying that the outcome of Corley’s lawsuit will hinge on the presiding judge and the arguments presented.
“If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then I guess it is a duck,” Landry explained. “It would be simpler if the legislature clarified this in the next session, and perhaps this situation will motivate them to do so.”
Parrish indicated that his interpretation of the law led him to consider Corley’s office vacant.
“He made it abundantly clear, both in action and announcement, that he no longer wishes to be a county commissioner but rather aspires to be a congressman,” Parrish remarked.
Corley asserted he had consulted with an attorney in Austin to prevent this outcome. He previously ran for the same Congressional District 19 seat in 2016 and claimed that the email and signage were remnants from his prior campaign.
Corley filed his lawsuit against Mark Meurer, a fellow resident of Slaton, who Parrish appointed to fill Corley’s position. A judge recently denied Corley’s request for a temporary restraining order against Meurer that would have prevented him from taking office. Another hearing is scheduled for next week to address the matter again.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist Corley in funding his legal defense.
Corley expressed that the lawsuit is a distraction from his congressional campaign, consuming valuable time. Nonetheless, he emphasized that this is about ensuring his constituents have representation from someone they elected.
“I’ve been labeled in the past as having a short fuse and being easily frustrated,” Corley reflected. “Now everyone can see the challenges I face.”
Parrish maintained that he fulfilled his legal obligations by appointing Meurer as commissioner until the general election next November. He stated that he would have acted similarly for any commissioner who took actions similar to Corley’s.
“It just happened to be Jason Corley,” Parrish concluded. “My response would have been identical, regardless of who the officeholder was.”
On Monday, Parrish extended his best wishes to Corley for his congressional aspirations and expressed gratitude for his service. He mentioned that he told Corley he was welcome to stay and observe the commissioners’ meeting “like any other citizen.”
