Gruner named municipal judge

The Navasota City Council conducted a special meeting Monday, April 15, to consider the appointment of a municipal judge, following the decision of longtime Municipal Judge John LeFlore to retire earlier this year.

After meeting in Executive Session pursuant to Section 551.074, Texas Government Code, Personnel Matters, a motion was made to appoint Patricia Gruner. It was seconded and passed with a unanimous vote. Gruner take her oath of office during the Apil 22, city council meeting.

Gruner has lived and worked in Navasota for 43 years – 31 of those years working at the Navasota Medical Center. She credits that time at NMC with gaining valuable insight into working with a variety of personalities and circumstances.

Gruner said, “It teaches you a lot about life when you’re out in the workforce.”

Navasota old-timers know that Gruner is not a newcomer to public service. She served as a trustee on the Navasota Independent School District School Board for six years in the 1990s and as mayor of Navasota from 2002-2006.

Gruner describes herself as a “lifelong learner” and looks forward to attending the training classes required of the position.

She said, “I look forward to working with a lot of people that I worked with before and look forward to working with Rochelle (Rochelle Jessie, municipal court clerk). I understand she’s the backbone of that job. It’s wonderful to have someone with her experience there.”

City Manager Brad Stafford said the date of Gruner’s swearing-in is still to be determined.

According to Mayor Bert Miller, four applications were received for the position of municipal court judge. Requirements according to State law reference–Municipal court judges, V.T.C.A., Government Code, sec. 29.004, and the City of Navasota Code of Ordinances, Article VII, applicants (1) “shall have been a resident citizen of the City of Navasota for a period of one year immediately preceding such appointment; (2) shall not hold any other public office except that of notary public; (3) shall have paid up to date all outstanding city taxes and utilities; and (4) shall not have been convicted of a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude.”