LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Lubbock County Judge Curtis Parrish announced on Monday morning that he removed Precinct 2 County Commissioner Jason Corley from office, and has sworn in a new commissioner. Corley called the move a “corrupt power play.”
Parrish cited state law regarding a county elected official campaigning for another office in announcing the “automatic resignation” of Corley.
To fill the vacancy, during Monday morning’s commissioners court meeting, Judge Parrish swore in Mark Meurer, of Slaton. Meurer will fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term of office.
Since the developing news, Corley has now filed a lawsuit over Parrish’s decision. He has filed an action against Meurer in the state district court.
In the lawsuit, Corley calls Parrish’s justification to remove him an “extremely broad” and an “erroneous application” of the “Resign to Run” law. Corley insists he didn’t resign his office because he did not file for candidacy for U.S. House of Representatives until the law no longer applied.
He’s asking the court to issue an order declaring him commissioner once again and to remove Meurer
Judge Parrish said Corley expressed intent in running for Congress before making his official campaign announcement on December 2. Parrish claims Corley “became a candidate in fact for U.S. House of Representatives” on November 12. Corley responded in a statement that he consulted multiple attorneys before announcing his candidacy, to make sure he followed every point of state law.
In Texas, the “Resign-to-Run” law states several elected officials with more than a year and 30 days left in their current term must automatically resign before announcing their candidacy or filing to run for another office. The county commissioner’s term runs through early January 2027.
In November, Corley formed an exploratory committee to weigh public support of a congressional campaign. Judge Parrish said Corley used a “Corley for Congress” email address, as well as graphics and a PO Box for the campaign, in a message delivered to news outlets, indicating a run for Congress.
Because Corley’s statements were made prior to the one year and 30 days before the expiration of his term of office, Judge Parrish declared Corley’s seat vacant.
Corley posted a statement on social media calling Judge Parrish’s actions an “outrageous and politically driven stunt to silence the strongest advocate for accountability in Lubbock County government.”
Corley’s campaign says legal options are being pursued.
When Parrish announced his re-election campaign October 2, three candidates had already announced they would run for the Precinct 2 seat; the list did not include incumbent Corley.
When KCBD asked Corley on October 2 what his plans are, Corley cited state statute specific to commissioners and several other county offices, in a printed statement: “A sitting County Commissioner cannot announce his intent to run for another office until 1 year and 30 days prior to the date they would take office”.
In a statement Monday, Judge Parrish outlined Corley’s actions with a timeline:
“Commissioner Corley has sent emails to several individuals stating he is a candidate for Congress. In an email on November 12, 2025, to media outlets across Texas, Mr. Corley stated he was forming an exploratory committee to assess the level of public support for his campaign for Congress. This email was sent by Jason Corley from a ‘Corley for Congress’ email address. Attached to the press release were two ‘Corley for Congress’ campaign graphics, a ‘Corley for Congress’ post office box address in Slaton, and a medica contact person also using a ‘Corley for Congress’ email address.”
Below is the full statement released by Corley’s campaign in response Monday morning:
“This morning, Judge Curtis Parrish orchestrated an outrageous and politically driven stunt meant to silence the strongest advocate for accountability in Lubbock County government by removing Commissioner Jason Corley from the seat voters elected him to.
Jason Corley followed the law to the letter. Before filing, he consulted multiple attorneys to make sure his candidacy complied with every detail of Texas election law. The claim that forming an exploratory committee somehow triggered the ‘Resign-to-Run’ rule is absurd, desperate, and reeks of political manipulation.
Curtis Parrish knows Jason Corley has exposed waste, fought laziness in county leadership, and demanded results for taxpayers. Parrish has spent years dodging responsibility while Jason rolled up his sleeves to get things done. Now, faced with growing public disapproval, Parrish is using his position to punish the one man unafraid to call him out.
This corrupt power grab will not stand. Corley isn’t going anywhere—because the people of Lubbock County know who’s been fighting for them and who’s been hiding behind politics.
‘The voters—not a weak and threatened judge—have the right to decide who represents them,’ said the Corley Campaign. ‘Curtis Parrish can try to remove Jason from office, but he can’t remove the truth. Jason Corley has been the loudest, toughest watchdog for taxpayers—and that fight isn’t ending today.’
Legal options are being pursued immediately, and the campaign will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with voters demanding honest, accountable government. This blatant political attack only proves one thing: Jason Corley’s leadership has them scared.
Jason Corley for Congress – Fearless. Proven. Unbought.
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