Conroe Firefighters Sue City for Ballot Access

**Conroe Firefighters Sue City, Allege Improper Rejection of Collective Bargaining Petition**

**CONROE, TX – December 14, 2024** – Conroe firefighters have formally filed a lawsuit against the City of Conroe, alleging city officials improperly rejected their petition to place a collective bargaining initiative on the ballot for the upcoming May 2025 election. The Conroe Professional Firefighters Association (CPFFA) initiated legal action on December 13, 2024, in the 284th state District Court in Montgomery County, marking a significant escalation in the dispute.

At the core of the controversy is a petition submitted by the CPFFA to City Secretary Soco M. Gorjon on October 25, 2024. The petition sought to trigger a city election, allowing Conroe residents to vote on whether firefighters should adopt a system of collective bargaining for their wages, hours, and working conditions, as outlined in Texas Local Government Code Chapter 174. The CPFFA submitted 2,056 signatures, comfortably exceeding the 1,940 required—which represents 5% of registered voters from the last mayoral election.

However, the city did not certify the petition. On December 10, 2024, Gorjon informed the CPFFA that 171 of the submitted signatures had been invalidated. These rejections were attributed to various reasons, including signatories not being registered voters in Conroe, duplicate entries, signatures not matching those on file, missing voter registration numbers, or not residing within city limits. With these signatures deemed invalid, the total valid signatures fell below the required threshold, prompting the city to reject the petition.

The CPFFA argues in its lawsuit that the City Secretary’s actions went beyond her legal authority. According to the firefighters’ legal counsel, state law views the city secretary’s role in this process as largely ministerial. This means her duties should primarily involve confirming voter registration against official rolls without making extensive judgments on signature validity or other complex issues that the CPFFA contends require a more judicial review. The lawsuit claims the city should have certified the petition by November 24, 2024, which was 20 days after its initial submission.

“Our firefighters deserve a voice in their working conditions, and the citizens of Conroe deserve the right to vote on this important issue,” said Mark Johnson, President of the Conroe Professional Firefighters Association. “We believe the City Secretary overstepped her authority and disenfranchised hundreds of legitimate voters. We are confident the court will side with us and uphold the democratic process, ensuring our community has the opportunity to decide this crucial matter.”

If the petition had been certified and subsequently approved by voters, Conroe firefighters would gain the right to negotiate their employment terms with the city through an independent third party. This process is already established in other major Texas cities like Houston, Dallas, and Austin, where collective bargaining has been in place for public safety personnel for years. Proponents argue it provides a structured framework for resolving disputes and ensuring fair compensation and safe working conditions.

Conroe City Attorney Taylor Williams reiterated the city’s position. “The city has a responsibility to uphold the integrity of the election process,” Williams stated. “Our review of the petition followed established legal guidelines and protocols to ensure all signatures were valid according to state law. We believe the city has acted lawfully and will defend our position in court.”

The lawsuit seeks a court order compelling the city to certify the petition and place the collective bargaining measure on the May 2025 ballot. The legal battle is expected to involve significant discovery and hearings, as both sides prepare to present their arguments regarding the interpretation of state election laws and the authority of municipal officials. The outcome could set a precedent for future ballot initiatives in Conroe and potentially influence similar efforts in other Texas cities. No immediate court dates have been announced.