The man tapped by Lubbock County Judge Curtis Parrish to temporarily replace Precinct 2 Commissioner Jason Corley last fall on Wednesday shared a statement addressing growing concernsthat he continued to get paid for the job even when Corley was re-instated - and vowed to return the money.
In his statement, Mark Meurer said he notified Parrish multiple times after he continued to receive pay for the commissioner's position despite Corley resuming his duties after a court ruling in December 2025, but said he was told by the County Judge he should keep the pay as the dispute remained in litigation.
However, Meurer said he kept the money in a separate account and intends to return it.
"It was never my intention to keep a salary for duties I did not
perform. I trusted that Judge Parish’s instructions to me were proper," his statement reads. "I will return the full amount of the salary payments I received to the County."
Meurer's statement came a day after Lubbock Criminal District Attorney Sunshine Stanek confirmed her office is looking into why the county is paying two people for the same elected office.
However, Stanek declined to further comment on the pending investigation.
Meanwhile, an agenda item for the county commissioners court's Sept. 21 session is proposing a resolution supporting Stanek's request to have Texas Rangers investigate the matter.
"Whereas, questions and concerns have arisen regarding apparent payroll irregularities involving Lubbock County government during the past year, including matters associated with the appointment of Mark Meurer as a Lubbock County Commissioner," the proposed resolution states.
Meurer responds as Lubbock County payroll controversy escalates
Meurer, who had not responded to A-J and other media requests for comment as the situation developed this week, on Wednesday wrote that he went to the hospital Monday for a throat procedure and remains hospitalized.
His full statement reads:
After the Court ruling returned Commissioner Corley to office in December 2025, I continued to receive pay for the commissioner’s position. I immediately contacted Judge Parishand alerted him of the possible overpayment. Judge Parish told me to keep the salary pending thecompletion of the legal challenge. In the following months, I reminded him of the possibleoverpayment at least two more times. Each time, Judge Parish told me to keep the salary becausethe Court had not made a final ruling on who should hold the commissioner’s seat.However, I set the salary payments aside. It was never my intention to keep a salary forduties I did not perform. I trusted that Judge Parish’s instructions to me were proper.I will return the full amount of the salary payments I received to the County. I will notcontinue to participate in the legal action related to Judge Parish’s attempt to removeCommissioner Corley from office. I will withdraw from the pending litigation and leave thematter to Judge Parish and the State of Texas.Monday, I went into the hospital for a throat procedure. I do not know when I will bereleased. While I am hospitalized, my ability to respond to further inquiries may be limited ordelayed.Sincerely,Mark Meurer
Lubbock County leaders consider Texas Rangers request
The agenda item for the Sept. 21 meeting was put forward by Corley, the elected commissioner for the precinct at the center of a payroll controversy.
However, the resolution is only supporting an independent fact-finding investigation.
"Nothing in this resolution shall be construed as a finding by the Commissioners Court that any individual has committed a criminal offense, violated any law, or engaged in misconduct," the resolution states.
Corley was temporarily removed from the office on Dec. 8 after County Judge Curtis Parrish determined that Corley had triggered an automatic resignation clause when he sent communications Parrish believed indirectly announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives District 19 seat.
Parrish appointed Mark Meurer to serve the remainder of Corley's term, which ends in December.
However, Corley, who officially announced his candidacy on Dec. 2, filed a lawsuit challenging his expulsion, saying he announced his candidacy outside of the year-and-30-day window required by the Texas Constitution to automatically resign him.
Senior Judge Patrick Pirtle issued an order reinstating Corley after a Dec. 19 temporary injunction hearing.
Meurer filed an appeal with the Seventh Court of Appeals of Texas and oral arguments are set for Oct. 13.
However, while the appeal was pending, commissioners learned that Meurer was still receiving a paycheck for his appointment as the precinct 2 commissioner.
The Lubbock County Commissioner for Precinct 2 makes about $90,000 a year.
Neither Parrish nor Corley returned messages seeking comment.
Gabriel Monte is the criminal justice reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal in Texas. Have a news tip for him? Email him at gmonte@lubbockonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Meurer vows to return money, distances from Parrish in Lubbock County pay dispute
