The day after Lubbock Report told the story of two more women accusing County Judge Curtis Parrish of unwanted sexual advances, we reached out to the county commissioners to get their reaction.
They’re not happy – but that’s not the only issue.
There’s a “very toxic work environment” at the county, said Jordan Rackler, Precinct 4 commissioner, even before the claims of sexual conduct. As one example Parrish’s administrative assistant adopted what Rackler called a “shut-door policy.”
Commissioners are still upset two people were paid to be Precinct 2 commissioner for months.
Quick reminder, the battle over Precinct 2 (click to open)
Parrish announced on the morning of December 8 that Corley has automatically resigned as commissioner because he became a candidate for another office with more than one year and 30 days left in his current term.
Parrish immediately administered the oath of office to Meurer to replace Corley.
Corley denied getting the timing wrong in his bid to become the Congressman for Texas District 19. Corley sued the same day as Parrish’s announcement and a few days later the State of Texas intervened on Corley’s behalf.
A State District Court put Corley back in office on a temporary order. Up until news of the double salary broke, Meurer the legal battle in both state court and the Seventh Court of Appeals.
Meurer stated in a press release that he kept the Precinct 2 salary separate and would return it. He also claimed he made Parrish aware of the salary issue and was told the keep the money.
Commissioners said Parrish was given paperwork in late 2025 to stop Mark Meurer’s pay but did not sign it. (Parrish defended himself in September, claiming he was not the only one with authority to stop the salary.) Commissioners Jason Corley and Rackler signed the paperwork after the double salary situation became known to the public.
Add in three women accusing Parrish of improper sexual acts and:
- Two commissioners believe he should resign.
- One said that’s up to Parrish.
- Corley – who has battled with Parrish many times over the past few years – said Parrish does not need to resign until official proof is presented.
- And Kevin Pounds, who will take Corley’s Precinct 2 seat January 1, did not voice an opinion about Parrish resigning, but added: “It sure don’t sound good. It’s just another blemish for the county at this point.”
Parrish was invited to comment for this story but has so far not accepted.
The claims of sexual misconduct
Susan Rowley, justice of the peace for Precinct 2, publicly accused Parrish of unwelcome sexual contact in a video released this month. Lubbock Report then broke the story of two more women with similar claims. Parrish called the claims preposterous and false.
Double pay in Precinct 2
Editor’s note: James Clark broke the story last month that the county was paying two people – Jason Corley and Mark Meurer – for the one job of Precinct 2 commissioner. He was still writing for LubbockLights.com before he joined me, Terry Greenberg, in launching Lubbock Report. This month, Lubbock Report examined that situation in light of the county’s fraud, waste and abuse policy.
Very toxic work environment
“The office morale is not good. It has not been good since we found out about the Mark Meurer money,” Rackler said.
The situation deteriorated in mid-September even before the three women came forward publicly, Rackler claims, adding Parrish and his staffer are on one side of the rift with commissioners and their staffers on other side.
“Our office staff does a lot of things on a daily basis with the judge’s office. Whenever you come for a probate check-in, you go through our front desk. And it’s toxic. Nobody wants to do it. And I feel sorry for these ladies,” Rackler said, mentioning the “shut-door policy.”
“[Parrish’s administrative assistant] doesn’t want our office staff walking through her office to go to the supply room. There’s been no communication between him or his staff member and our commissioners court staff. These ladies do not want to come to work because it’s not good,” Rackler said.
“I’ve had commissioners from all over the state of Texas contact me and ask me, ‘What in the world’s going on in Lubbock County. We are the circus act right now of the Republican Party,” Rackler said.
Rackler clarified it was about 10 people and some were contractors and vendors.
“I don’t know what it’s gonna take to get the morale with our Commissioners Court staff back to where it needs to be because this is a very toxic work environment,” Rackler said.
The sex claims against the judge add to that, he said.
“I think that the staff is concerned and they’re tired of the comments,” Rackler of the claims of unwanted sexual attention.
Getting back to normal
Cary Shaw, Precinct 3 commissioner, posed a rhetorical question saying, “It started with the Meurer deal. And then it’s built to this. When is when is Lubbock County gonna get back to normal?”
“Normal doesn’t mean everybody agreeing and everybody patting everybody on the back. … But normal is a structured back and forth to get the best for the county that we can,” Shaw said.
Pounds said, “I want to get back to trying to earn some respect … and trust back for the voters and the taxpayers.”
“We got a long road to hoe,” Pounds said, adding the county needs someone to “do some investigating.”
But does that mean criminal or civil?
“That’s way above my pay grade right now. … It just needs to be somebody that that’s what they do for a living. That’s their job is to investigate those things,” Pounds said.
“I look forward to getting to work in January. We’ve got our hands full. It’s going to take us a long time to earn some of the trust back,” Pounds said.
Related Stories
- Two more women come forward accusing Judge Parrish of sexual misconduct, which he calls ‘false’
- Two commissioners call for judge to resign amid ‘toxic’ Lubbock County work environment
- County judge wrote unusual job description in 2019 with instructions in case of illegal, unethical or immoral behavior
Should Parrish resign?
Parrish does not have an opponent in the November 3 election. His current term ends December 31 and the new term begins January 1.
Lubbock Report asked commissioners if Parrish should resign.
Rackler said, “I believe that I would if I was in this situation.”
Shaw said, “I thought he should have resigned on the Meuer deal. Okay, I was ready to ask for his resignation.”
Michael Dalby, commissioner for Precinct 1, said, “That’s a question that only Judge Parrish can answer.”
Corley was the one commissioner who spoke up for Parrish staying in office.
“I don’t believe anybody should ever make any decisions based on allegations, but only on proof,” Corley said.
“This is certainly not a defense of the judge. It’s just, somebody needs to file a police report, or somebody needs to bring forth proof of their allegations,” Corley said.
‘Out of our hands’
Commissioners cannot remove a county judge under the Texas Local Government Code. Such an action would need to come from a State District Court.
“It’s not really county commissioners’ business. That’s the problem when you’re dealing with an elected official with allegations such as these. The court has no authority one way or the other on this,” Corley said.
Shaw said, “We can’t remove him. I don’t think we can even sanction him.”
Dalby said he saw the news from Lubbock Report that two more women came forward after Rowley’s video on the Lubbock Lampoon Facebook page.
“I’m going to stay focused on my job as the Precinct 1 county commissioner,” Dalby said.
“Everything that has been presented is out of our hands, and it’s up to law enforcement and the District Attorney to move forward on it,” Dalby said.
Shaw had no hesitation criticizing Parrish for his handling of the situation in Precinct 2 and the month’s long double salary. But he took a more nuanced approach concerning the women who claimed unwanted sexual contact with Parrish.
“I’m hesitant to make statements on this particular deal because right now. It’s, accusations. It’s not, an actual conviction,” Shaw said.
