Lubbock is currently embroiled in its favorite pastime: a legal slap-fight over things that should be simple. Gary Boren wanted to run for the District 4 seat, but City Hall tried to kick him to the curb because he’s only lived in the district for two months. Apparently, the City Secretary thinks you need to marinate in a neighborhood for at least half a year before you’re “qualified” to represent it.
The City tried to hide behind Texas state law, which mandates a six-month residency. Boren, however, actually read the Lubbock City Charter—which is more than we can say for the people we pay to run this place—and pointed out that our local “constitution” only requires you to live there “at the time of filing.” The Seventh Court of Appeals in Amarillo had to step in like a weary substitute teacher to explain that, yes, the city’s own rules actually matter more than the state’s default settings.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Lubbock news cycle without some chaotic side characters. Local activist Mikel Ward decided to “help” by sliding into the judges’ personal email inboxes because official e-filing sounded like a hassle. The court had to publicly remind her that “ex parte communication” is just a fancy legal term for “stop bothering us at home.” It’s comforting to know that our local political discourse is handled with the same grace as a Nextdoor argument.
Now Boren is officially on the ballot for the June 27 special election, and the City is left holding a bill for the outside lawyers they hired to defend a losing argument. Mayor McBrayer is already doing the “I told you so” dance, while Boren is busy asking why City Hall was so desperate to keep him out. Maybe they just really hate the “two-month” vibes, or maybe they’re just terrified of a candidate who actually knows where the Charter is kept.
If you’re planning on running for office in this town, remember: you don’t need a long-term history in the neighborhood, you just need a good lawyer and a homestead exemption filed just in the nick of time.
Why spend thousands in taxpayer dollars to follow the rules when you can spend thousands to try and make up new ones?
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