Lubbock County Judge Curtis Parrish issued a statement Thursday addressing the ongoing legal fight over the Precinct 2 commissioner’s seat and the discovery that the county had been paying both Mark Meurer and Jason Corley for the position.
Parrish’s statement comes two days after LubbockLights.com broke news that Meurer remained on the county payroll even after a judge had restored Corley to the Precinct 2 position.
The county was paying Meurer a commissioner’s salary after Corley had returned to office. The current commissioner’s salary is $90,686 annually, plus a $4,800 allowance. Meurer is estimated to have received roughly $70,000 in salary from the county this year.
On Wednesday, Meurer issued his own statement saying he would return the full amount he received and withdraw from the legal proceedings challenging Corley’s position. Meurer said he had set the money aside and that he had repeatedly raised the issue of the payments with Parrish.
Parrish addressed that development Thursday.
“I want to provide an update on the status of next month’s 7th Court of Appeals hearing in the case of the STATE OF TEXAS VS. MARK MEURER, to get legal clarity on the issue of who sits in the Lubbock County Commissioner Precinct 2 position,” Parrish said.
“These issues have drawn out longer than any of us anticipated.”
The 7th Court of Appeals in Amarillo had been scheduled to hear oral arguments Oct. 13. Parrish previously told Lubbock Lights that the hearing should provide additional clarification on the legal issues surrounding the case.
But that hearing is now in question following Meurer’s decision to withdraw.
“Mr. Meurer released a statement yesterday stating he wishes to withdraw from the lawsuit and end the upcoming appellate court hearing,” Parrish said.
Parrish also addressed the public reaction to the dispute, saying Meurer had faced accusations and threats in recent days.
“There have been a lot of accusations, threats, and incorrect information thrown around in the last several days,” Parrish said.
“While I am fairly used to this, Mr. Meurer is not.”
“I fully understand his decision to withdraw.”
Parrish said he respects Meurer and thanked him for serving on the Commissioners Court during the dispute.
“I have the utmost respect for Mr. Meurer. I always have and always will,” Parrish said.
“I want to thank him for his willingness to serve the people of Lubbock County at a time when we needed him.”
Parrish said Meurer’s withdrawal resolves the legal questions that had been headed to the appeals court.
“This withdrawal resolves the questions before the appeals court,” Parrish said.
“All salary is being returned, and there will be no further hearings regarding this matter.”
How the story broke
The issue of Meurer’s salary became public Sunday night when Lubbock Lights reported that the county had continued paying Meurer even after a temporary court order restored Corley to the Precinct 2 seat. Lubbock Lights confirmed the continued payments through five sources, including Precinct 1 Commissioner Michael Dalby.
Within hours of the Lubbock Lights report, Dalby said the county would stop paying Meurer. Lubbock Lights reported Monday that the county had stopped the payments and that commissioners intended to try to recover the money.
Meurer then issued his statement Wednesday, saying he would return the salary he received and withdraw from the litigation.
Parrish’s Thursday statement now indicates that, with Meurer withdrawing, the scheduled appellate proceedings will end.
“We now move forward to take care of the needs of Lubbock County,” Parrish said.
HOW IT BEGAN
The legal battle began in December when Parrish declared that Corley had automatically resigned from the Precinct 2 position after becoming a candidate for Congress.
Parrish then administered the oath of office to Meurer.
Corley challenged the move in court. The State of Texas subsequently became involved in the case, and a Lubbock judge restored Corley to the commissioner’s seat.
The legal dispute continued through appeals and proceedings involving the Texas Supreme Court and the 7th Court of Appeals.
As of this week, however, Meurer has said he will withdraw from the case and return the money he received.
Parrish now says there will be no further appellate hearing in the matter.
Lubbock Lights will continue to follow the Precinct 2 issue and the county’s efforts regarding the returned salary.
FULL STATEMENT FROM JUDGE PARRISH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Judge Curtis Parrish
806-775-1679
STATEMENT FROM JUDGE CURTIS PARRISH
I want to provide an update on the status of next month’s 7th Court of Appeals hearing in the case of the State of Texas vs. Mark Meurer, to get legal clarity on the issue of who sits in the Lubbock County Commissioner Precinct 2 position. These issues have drawn out longer than any of us anticipated. Mr. Meurer released a statement yesterday stating he wishes to withdraw from the lawsuit and end the upcoming appellate court hearing.
There have been a lot of accusations, threats, and incorrect information thrown around in the last several days. While I am fairly used to this, Mr. Meurer is not. I fully understand his decision to withdraw. I have the utmost respect for Mr. Meurer. I always have and always will. I want to thank him for his willingness to serve the people of Lubbock County at a time when we needed him. This withdrawal resolves the questions before the appeals court. All salary is being returned, and there will be no further hearings regarding this matter.
We now move forward to take care of the needs of Lubbock County.
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