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Coryell County court approves GOP use of county building after legal debate
Summary
The Coryell County Commissioners Court voted to allow the county Republican Party to use county facilities for periodic meetings after a heated discussion over whether permitting one party without an adopted facility-use policy would violate ethics guidance and election rules. The judge and several commissioners said they prefer a written policy but approved this request to avoid denying access while drafting policy.
The Coryell County Commissioners Court on a voice vote approved a request for the Coryell County GOP to use county facilities for periodic meetings after debating whether the action complied with state ethics guidance.
Commissioner Weddle introduced the request on behalf of the GOP and identified Norm Mitchell as the party’s county chair. Mitchell told the court the GOP planned to meet roughly every other month in Gatesville and would limit in‑county travel for attendees: "We're all we're all 1 team. We're all 1 county," Mitchell said, framing the request as an effort to include precinct chairs across the county.
County Judge pushed back, saying approving a single group's use without a preexisting facilities policy could run afoul of ethics guidance and election‑law rules: "I do believe that it violates state statutes as far as ethics as well," the judge said during the discussion. The judge and other commissioners asked that any permanent change be governed by a written facilities‑use policy agreed by the court.
Supporters said the county attorney had previously approved similar arrangements in other counties and that allowing the GOP to use the space would not exclude other groups. After an exchange about whether the judge’s legal assessment or the county attorney’s informal view controlled, the court voted to approve the GOP request, with supporters noting the action could be revisited once a formal facilities policy is drafted and adopted.
The court directed staff to place a policy discussion on a future agenda. The matter was debated for more than an hour and included a call for clearer written rules to govern all groups’ access to county property.
