A prospective candidate for the City of Lubbock’s District 4 Special Election is making an effort to be put on the ballot after the city secretary denied his candidate application.
Lubbock Businessman Gary Boren applied to be placed on the ballot for the District 4 special election in June, but was denied by City Secretary Courtney Paz, who cited Boren’s residency as the reason why.
According to copy of a letter from Paz sent to Boren on March 31, Boren was not eligible to be a candidate for this office because he “does not meet the minimum length of continuous residence in District 4.” Boren provided the Avalanche-Journal with a copy of the letter, and the A-J is awaiting response from the city secretary’s office.
In her letter, Paz cited Texas Election Code Ann. §141.001(5) and Section 145.003(i) as to the laws governing her decision to deny Boren’s application.
“The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run for the District 4 Lubbock City Council position is April 27, 2026,” reads Paz’s letter. “Your application, filed on March 26, 2026, states that you have resided in District 4 for two months and thus fails to meet the minimum residency requirement.”
Boren responds to the city’s denial
Boren sought counsel from Austin layer Eric Opiela, who suggested sending Paz a demand letter contesting her decision.
According to a letter sent to Paz, city attorney Matthew Wade and Mayor Mark McBrayer, Opiela said Boren’s application was denied due to a “misstatement of law.”
“(As) a former Lubbock City Councilman, former Lubbock ISD Board President and current appointee by Governor Abbott to the Brazos River Authority, Mr. Boren is clearly eligible to the office under the Lubbock City Charter, the Texas Local Government Code and Election Code,” reads Opiela’s letter.
Opiela further stated in his letter that applicable law requires that Mr. Boren be a resident of District 4 at the time of filing for office — not earlier.
“His sworn statement on his application that he has been a resident of the territory from which District 4 is elected continuously for two months reinforces twice over that he meets the minimum residence requirement provided for in law. You therefore have no legal basis to declare him ineligible,” reads the letter.
In closing, Opiela requests that Paz accept Boren’s application and to certify Boren as a candidate to be placed on the ballot.
“If you fail to do so, a Writ of Mandamus will be necessary to compel the performance of your duty under the law,” closed the letter.
Mateo Rosiles is a reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and USA TODAY Network in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him: mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Boren fights for District 4 ballot spot after city denies application
Reporting by Mateo Rosiles, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
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