October 14, 2026 – GRANBURY, Texas — Three Granbury city officials have filed a lawsuit against the City of Granbury in an effort to invalidate recall petitions against them and halt an upcoming recall election.
Mayor Jim Jarratt, Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Wadley, and Councilman Gary Overdier claim that the petitions circulated to remove them from office lack enough valid signatures. The trio further alleges that individuals who circulated the petitions committed fraud and forgery during the signature-gathering process.
Despite these serious accusations, the lawsuit presents no evidence supporting the officeholders’ claims of wrongdoing, nor does it accuse any specific petition circulators. Instead, the legal filing asserts that further investigation is needed to verify the integrity of the signatures.
The legal challenge comes after the Granbury City Secretary officially reviewed and accepted the recall petitions as valid on September 8, clearing the way for the recall process to move forward under city guidelines.
Rooted in “Project Patriot” Controversy
The recall movement was sparked by resident outrage over “Project Patriot,” a controversial proposal to annex and rezone a 2,084-acre property at Knox Ranch for a hyperscale data center and power-generation facility.
Community organizers initiated the petition drives due to several growing concerns:
- Lack of Transparency:Residents accused city leaders of withholding details and failing to properly involve the public during annexation and rezoning proceedings for the massive development project.
- Environmental & Infrastructure Impact:Community members raised alarm over the massive footprint required for the proposed data center campus, including heavy power and water consumption.
- Erosion of Public Trust:Critics argued that elected leaders prioritized developer interests over community feedback, prompting petitions seeking to remove Mayor Jim Jarratt, Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Wadley, and Councilmembers Gary Overdier, Zeb Ullom, and Greg Corrigan.
The court’s decision on the lawsuit will determine whether the recall election proceeds as planned or is delayed pending an investigation into the petition signatures.
