Residency Questions in District 3 Race (11. September 2007, 14:04 by Derek Young) ~ Keeping It Interesting
When the Tacoma City Council election results were coming in a few weeks ago, Lauren Walker easily took the top slot for District 3. The more interesting question seemed to be who would take number 2 and proceed to the general election. In the end, Ronnie Allen Walker prevailed, but… Well, we didn’t expect this. The Tacoma Daily Index is reporting that Donald Powell – one of the candidates for the seat – is alleging that Ronnie Allen Warren does not live in the District.
There are emails, phone calls, and more details via the:
Tacoma Daily Index.
For reference:
PRIMARY RESULTS
Jack Pleasant 375 votes – 11.81%
Donald N. Powell 404 votes – 12.73%
Ronnie Allen Warren 429 votes – 13.52%
Lauren Walker 1,932 votes – 60.87%
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Hmmm. This gives me an idea. I have to go check on something.
1 | Posted by Marty | Sep 11, 02:51 PM
That’s a very very interesting article and raises a whole bunch of questions in my mind about who can be a candidate and what counts as residency as it applies to Warren. Fascinating stuff…
2 | Posted by Erik Hanberg | Sep 11, 03:04 PM
This race certainly wins for the most interesting signs. That’s for sure. There’s ones with boxing gloves.
Pleasant has ones with small yellow signs attached to his signs with an assortment of extra statements on them.
Given how many signs Warren had out, I am suprised a bit that he only received 13 percent of the vote.
I love it! Of course now I want to know what Marty’s checking on…
4 | Posted by KevinFreitas | Sep 11, 03:48 PM
I agree Kevin, I am going through where I think each canidate lives and why I think that. For sake of discussion is it discriminatory against homeless people to insist they have an address/physical residence in order to take part in the civic process as a canidate. Further, what if someone lives in two residences in different parts of town, can they run alternatly for each district? Just a pondering.
5 | Posted by Kitty | Sep 11, 04:34 PM
I agree with Kitty’s question about relevant laws, etc, regarding a candidate who describes themselves as homeless. I’d be curious what the law says.
6 | Posted by Erik Hanberg | Sep 11, 05:40 PM
The City Charter says:
Section 2.2 – Councilmen shall be qualified electors
and shall be residents of the City for two years
immediately preceding the time of filing as a
candidate and, if running for a district position, shall
be residents of their districts for one year
immediately preceding the time of filing as candidate
or, if appointed to fill a vacancy, the time of
appointment. No person shall be eligible for the
office of councilman while holding any other elective
public office.
Ch.29A RCW defines “residence” generally as the place where someone intends their domicile to be.
Washington Courts have universally upheld residency requirements.
7 | Posted by bob | Sep 11, 06:41 PM
The Tacoma Daily Index is reporting that Donald Powell – one of the candidates for the seat – is alleging that Ronnie Allen Warren does not live in the District.
Great political scoop on Todd Matthew’s part. His relationship with the candidates gave him the edge.
Powell appears to be willing to challenge Warren in court and has a witness ready to testify.
The last large election dispute in Pierce County based on the residency of a candidate involved judge Verharen which went up to the state Supreme Court.
The case involved a challenge to the prevailing judge who lived on a boat at the Tacoma Yacht Club for some of the week and with his wife in Kitsap County at other times.
In reading the Index article, Todd may find himself a witness if there is an evidentiary hearing on Warren’s residency:
Still, when this reporter attempted to contact the deacon by telephone, Warren picked up the line.
Very interesting issue though likely acedemic as Lauren Walker will almost certainly prevail in the general election.
Todd, keen work bro! Verily, You’re a reporter with Moxy! I smell a cartoon here someplace.
9 | Posted by RR Anderson | Sep 11, 11:03 PM
regarding residency requirements, i don’t think it’s discriminatory if you consider that there are also “at large” positions that do not require a candidate to reside in any particular area of the city. for the sake of discussion.
10 | Posted by tom delay | Sep 12, 08:47 AM
Marty,
Since the position you were running for is at-large, wouldn’t the only requirement be that the candidates live somewhere within the city of Tacoma?
I guess that if David Curry lives in University Place, Marilyn Strickland lives in Gig Harbor, and Johnathan Phillips lives in Parkland, you’ve pretty much got that City Council seat locked…
Strange twist.
Powell will challenge Warren but then says he won’t seek the office himself. That means that 4th place finisher Pleasant now has a chance at the seat. Wild.
Tacoma attorney Donald Powell said today that he intends to challenge City Council candidate Ronnie Allen Warren’s candidacy, but he won’t he won’t try to get himself on the November ballot.
Powell said he wanted to prove to Warren that he wasn’t motivated by sour grapes. Powell finished third in last month’s primary election for Tacoma’s District 3 council seat, 25 votes behind Warren, the second-place finisher
Powell might want to review the Washington State Supreme Court case in Verharen which makes it difficult to challenge someone on residency if they were not entitled to the seat themselves. This is getting complex.
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