Commissioner Jason Corley, Precinct 2 (Southeast Lubbock County) was removed from office Monday morning. Just prior to the start of Monday’s Commissioner’s Court meeting, County Judge Curtis Parrish swore in Mark Meurer of Slaton to take over as Precinct 2 commissioner.
Continuing coverage: Corley’s future on Commissioner’s Court waits for judge to be assigned; other commissioners stunned he was replaced
Updated story link: Judge denies restraining order on newly sworn commissioner Mark Meurer, however, issue to be reconsidered at hearing next Friday
Corley told LubbockLights.com he was removed from his office in the courthouse by security. Parrish denied that’s how it happened. But both men confirmed Corley was not allowed to attend (in his official capacity) and vote in the Monday Commissioner’s Court meeting.
Corley said he’s fighting back and will ask a State District Court to issue a restraining order against Parrish. Later Monday, Corley filed a lawsuit against Meurer (see update).
Update:
Corley filed suit against Meurer (not Parrish) on Monday.
The lawsuit said, “Judge Parrish purported to administer the oath of office for county commissioner for Lubbock County Precinct 2 to Meurer, despite the fact that there was no vacancy for said office.”
“Corley has not resigned as county commissioner for Lubbock County Precinct 2, and Corley still holds said office,” it also said.
The lawsuit claimed Parrish misapplied the law and was wrong to appoint Meurer. It seeks a declaration from the court that Corley is still the commissioner.
Click here to read the lawsuit.
LubbockLights.com called the courthouse Monday in an attempt to reach Meurer. The call was transferred to a voicemail greeting for Corley. LubbockLights.com also asked various officials for a current number to reach Meurer, but we were unsuccessful. We found a possible cell number for Muerer on the Internet and reached out via text message and voicemail. We will continue trying to reach out.
“This is an insult to me, but it is a slap in the face to the voters, to the citizens of Precinct 2 – to have their representative removed from office without a legal process is, I mean, it’s an insult,” Corley added.
Corley announced in November he’d formed an exploratory committee to run for Congress. Texas has a resign-to-run law, meaning if a candidate announces for another office with too much time left on the current term, it’s treated like a resignation.
Corley waited until December 2 to make an official announcement to avoid the problem of resign to run. But Parrish said Corley went too far expressing his interest to run for Congress before December 2.
“In an e-mail sent 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 e-mail was sent by Jason Corley from a ‘Corley for Congress’ email address,” Parrish said, in part in a written statement.
“Based on the above statements made by Jason Corley prior to one year and 30 days before the expiration of his term for office, I, Lubbock County Judge Curtis Parrish by the authority granted to me by the constitution and laws of the state of Texas do hereby announce that the office of Lubbock County Commissioner Precinct 2 is vacant by the automatic resignation of Jason Corley under the provisions of the Texas constitution and the Texas elections code. Signed, this date, December 8, 2025,” the statement said.
Corley said the announcement of an exploratory committee is not the same as officially announcing a campaign.
“[The November statement] just said that after an outpouring of support, I’m launching an exploratory committee to see if there’s support there for me to run for Congress.”
Corley unsuccessfully ran for Congress back in 2016.
“[Parrish is] also claiming because the e-mail came from an e-mail address that said ‘Corley for Congress at Gmail,’ that that constitutes my intent to run. That e-mail address and the logo that went out with that – that’s from 2015. All of that stuff already exists.”
“He gave me some paperwork with this stuff written on it – a written statement – and then had security remove me from the Commissioner Court offices after I gathered up my things. So, I was having to pack like the rent was due to get out of there,” Corley said.
When asked how he was feeling, Corley said, “Great.”
“It’s going to put a lot of free publicity on me. So, Curtis, thanks for helping with the campaign,” Corley said.
