Council boosts defense in charter, fire union cases

On January 8, the Conroe City Council approved up to $400,000 for new legal expenditures to protect the city in two ongoing lawsuits. These include a challenge to the charter amendment election held in November and a conflict with the firefighters’ union.

The council approved an additional $150,000 under its current contract with Denton, Navarro, Rodriguez, Bernal, Santee & Zech, P.C., for the city's defense in the case of John Sellars v. Duke W. Coon and the City of Conroe. The legal action aims to invalidate the outcomes of the November 4 election that modified the city’s home-rule charter. The council had previously authorized up to $150,000 in December, raising the possible total for that case to $300,000.

Residents expressed their concerns during public comment, highlighting the increasing legal expenses and cautioning against jeopardizing the integrity of the vote. Kim Attaya, a resident of Conroe and a member of the Conroe Industrial Development Corp. board, expressed to council members that the voters have clearly made their choice known.

“My neighbors are extremely upset,” Attaya said. “They fulfilled their civic responsibility.” They went to the polls, cast their votes, and the voters clearly expressed their opinions.

Council member Marsha Porter emphasized that the city was obligated to uphold the integrity of the election, noting that turnout was higher than in any previous city vote. “It is essential that we uphold the will of the voters,” Porter stated. “If you need to engage an expert, do whatever it takes to uphold the will of the voters, and that election must be respected.”

Council member David Hairel expressed his support for safeguarding voters while also urging the city’s attorneys to explore the possibility of a countersuit to recover legal expenses.

The council, in a distinct vote, sanctioned up to $250,000 for external legal representation in the case of Conroe Professional Fire Fighters Association v. City of Conroe, Texas, and Sami Quinlan. The firefighters’ union initiated the lawsuit on December 22, claiming that the city wrongfully dismissed a petition that would lead to a May 2026 election regarding collective bargaining.

City Attorney Michael Garner informed the council that a law firm had been selected and that the initial court hearing is anticipated on January 9.

Mayor Pro Tem Howard Wood cast his vote against both spending items, standing as the sole dissenting voice on the two measures.

The two approvals allow up to $400,000 in new legal costs as Conroe prepares to defend its actions in court, while city leaders consider the financial impact of lawsuits against the need to uphold voter decisions and city rules.

‍