Thursday, October 1, 2026
An appeals court has denied a legal challenge of Granbury’s recall petitions as moot, but the petitioners’ attorney said the fight to put five city officials before voters this fall isn’t over.
The Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth issued its ruling Sept. 21, denying Daniel Piatt and Janet Logsdon’s petition for a writ of mandamus and their request for attorney’s fees. The court ordered the city officials named as respondents to pay the proceeding’s court costs.
City Attorney Jeremy SoRelle said the ruling means a recall election cannot take place before May. Art Martinez de Vara, the petitioners’ attorney, disagreed, saying he would pursue further legal action if a November election is not called.
“The court of appeals can call it for November, they could call it for the week after the November election or they could call it for December,” Martinez de Vara said. “We certainly don’t have to wait till May, and I think it’s merited based upon what’s happening at this point.”
Meanwhile, public recall hearings for Mayor Jim Jarratt, Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Wadley and council members Greg Corrigan, Skip Overdier and Zeb Ullom are set for 6 p.m. Sept. 28. All five requested hearings Sept. 15 to address the allegations against them.
SoRelle identified the Oct. 6 council meeting as the deadline by which officials must resign or the council must order a special election “for a time that is appropriate.”
The court’s brief ruling does not specify an election date or explain its determination.
Martinez de Vara characterized the outcome as a victory, arguing the city’s eventual action on the petitions had prompted the ruling. He also pointed to the court’s assignment of costs to the respondents.
He acknowledged the ordinary deadline for a November election had passed but argued that exceptions for judicially ordered elections could permit an earlier vote.
“So, I don’t think it’s over,” he said. “I think the court is just stepping back and waiting to see if they do the right thing or not.”
The recall effort grew from opposition to the proposed Project Patriot data center and power-generation campus at Knox Ranch and allegations surrounding officials’ handling of it.
The city rejected the petitions July 28, citing insufficient valid signatures and allegations it considered too vague. After organizers challenged that decision in court, the city agreed in August to present the petitions to the council. City Secretary Carla Walker certified them, and council members received them Sept. 8, according to SoRelle.
Martinez de Vara said waiting until May would give the targeted officials another six months in office before a recall vote.
“I think the issue now is just what the date (of the vote) is,” he said.
