One lawsuit is tied to the Nov. 4 charter amendment election. The other is a separate dispute over the city’s firefighters’ collective bargaining petition.
The gist
The council authorized an additional $150,000 for Denton, Navarro, Rodriguez, Bernal, Santee & Zech, P.C., to defend the city in John Sellars v. Duke W. Coon and the city of Conroe—a case the agenda states challenges the election results on charter amendments, and wants to overturn the will of the voters amending the city’s home rule charter.
Council previously approved up to $150,000 in December. During public comment, residents voiced concerns about bringing the potential total to $300,000.
Kim Attaya, resident and council member of the Conroe Industrial Development Corp., told the council he believes the lawsuit tries to overturn what voters approved.
“My neighbors are mad as hell. They did their civic duty. They went to the polls, they voted and the voters spoke loud and clearly,” Attaya said. “This must stop. ... This is not democracy. This is not public service. This city must stop governing through litigation.”
During the discussion, council member Marsha Porter argued the city should stand behind voters, and said the Nov. 4 election drew more participation than any prior city election and that the city should “defend the will of the voters.”
“I think it's imperative that we defend the will of the voters and what they did,” Porter said. “If you have to hire an expert, whatever you have to do, defend the will of the voters, and that election stands.”
Council member David Hairel said he also wanted to protect voters but urged the city’s attorneys to consider a countersuit to recoup defense costs.
Also on the agenda
Council also approved up to $250,000 for outside legal counsel in the Conroe Professional Fire Fighters Association v. City of Conroe, Texas, and Sami Quinlan lawsuit, according to the agenda.
City Attorney Michael Garner said the city had identified a firm and expected the first hearing to be Jan. 9.
The firefighters’ association filed the suit Dec. 22 and alleged the city improperly rejected a petition it said should trigger a May 2026 election on collective bargaining, as previously reported by Community Impact.
Mayor Pro Tem Howard Wood voted against both items.
