October 15, 2023

Well, sometimes that may be difficult to say or prove since some move a lot, or stay here or there. Yes, some people move in with family members to take care of the aging, dying, or just to get re-established. But again, you do know where you live, what is called home. Temporary or permanent.

So what is all this about two candidates for Irmo Town Council and where they live in town, or not in town. What does the law say about being a “qualified elector” and how it defines “home”?

First, let’s look at candidate Phyllis Coleman since her residency came into question first. In order to run for office you must first be a “qualified elector” of the position and jurisdiction you intend to run for. Basically, you must be able to vote in that election. In order to vote in an election, you must be registered to vote 30 days prior to the election. Therefore, you must be living in that jurisdiction, town limits, etc. that you are going to run for office. When you file to run for that office, you must list your name address, etc. and your voter registration number. If that number doesn’t match the address and the jurisdiction you are seeking office for, it will get kicked out of the computer.

You can basically file to run for office, not live in Town, and not be registered to vote in Town, I guess, since the form you sign says you “affirm, you meet or will meet by the time of the general election”. But then it would be known by all that you don’t live here and aren’t registered to vote in that election. But as long as you moved here and registered to vote here prior to 30 days before election all would be legal. But yes questions would arise about not living here for very long. So it’s better to be registered to vote when you turn in your candidacy statement for office. At least you can hide that fact until someone discovers it, and puts it out there on social media and websites.

Since the post about her living at 1211 Hyatt Avenue, Columbia and tax records to show and prove that, my question that arose in my mind was, is she registered to vote here at Mower Street. I obtained a copy of her statement of candidacy she filed for Irmo Town Council which is public record through South Carolina Election Commission (through someone very technically savvy, not me). I called Lexington County Election Commission who said her registration number didn’t get kicked out, meaning that number was connected to an address in Irmo. Now if Columbia tax records are correct and she lived and claimed legal residence at Hyatt Avenue on December 30, 2022 then she abided there in 2022. If she was registered to vote in Irmo when she filed her statement of candidacy on 8-28-23, then she lived here on that date,so when did she move here? After December 30, 2022 when she paid her taxes and claimed legal residence and before she registered to vote here in Irmo. According to SC Elections Commission records which I obtained the list on Newly Registered Voters in Irmo, she registered to vote here in Irmo 8-17-2023.

All in all, yes she can run for office. But legally she moved here after 12-30-22 or she lied to the City of Columbia about not living there when she paid her taxes and claiming legal residence which means less taxes. So she can’t say she lived here in Irmo prior to that date, nor the last 5 years as she recently posted in a response to me, or she would be in trouble .

So let’s just say she moved here after 12-30-22 and before 8-17-23. All is legal, and all meets law to run for Irmo Town Council.

But does it meet your requirements? I heard it mentioned at last week’s special called meeting (10-10-23) that people shouldn’t be serving on Council if not lived here as long as he, etc.

Yes, Phyllis Coleman may have been raised here, lived here with mother while caring for her, but never changed her residence from Hyatt Ave to Mowers Street until deciding to run for Council. Who knows? Oh, just us the voters, since she has been asked multiple times by me and others to answer that and be forthright with us. She hasn’t. She has used other terms like lifelong connection, born, raised, etc. etc., beating all around the bush, spinning, etc, but not directly answering that question. And when she states “advocating for greater community engagement as a fresh new voice (which by the way many claim that during elections) for all of the residents of Irmo”, yet won’t answer these residents questions. Is this the fresh new voice that we need or just a repeat of the current mayor’s voice?

Now let’s look at other concerns and issues with being forthright, open, and transparent. As a candidate for office you are required to complete a Statement of Economic Interest, by the time of swearing in if elected. It can be completed after filing for office which most candidates do. Why? To let voters know of any conflicts of interest that the voters may want to know about. It’s called being fully transparent, let them decide if you may have a conflict of interest in any realm. Why wouldn’t you do it up front? Could be multiple reasons, but most would have to do with not wanting the voter to know of something you don’t want to divulge. Like an interest in some businesses, or other homes you may own, 2^nd homes, vacation homes, rental property, etc. or another home in another town that you claim legal residence to. But it all goes back to not being required to do it up front, so I won’t. As opposed to not being required to do it up front, but I will. She hasn’t filed her SOEI nor any campaign disclosures which does require an address.

It is odd as well, maybe “curious” as Wade says, as to why the only ones not completing the SOEI up front are the two that have issues with where, how long they lived here, or even if they lived here at all when filing to run for Irmo Town Council. Yes, will cover George Frazier’s residency as well in n