| Mayoral candidate’s residency in question in South Fulton race |
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Posted: Thursday, August 23, 2012 9:04 pm
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By CHRIS MENEES
Staff Reporter
The residency of a man who has filed as a candidate for the South Fulton mayor’s position is being contested.
Ricky G. Smith met the qualifying deadline last week in filing his petition in the mayor’s race — but Obion County administrator of elections Leigh Schlager said the election office has received complaints alleging he does not actually live in South Fulton.
“We had complaints from multiple people who said he didn’t actually reside in the City of South Fulton,” she said.
Mrs. Schlager said Smith changed his address a while back from Shatz Road in Union City to 209 West State Line in South Fulton — but complaints being levied claim he lives in Union City.
The complaints claim the West State Line address in South Fulton is a commercial property, located across the street from Buck’s Party Mark on the Fulton side. The West State Line property in South Fulton has been listed in advertising as Buck’s Celebration Center and various community events, as well as wrestling action, have been held there.
Although 209 West State Line is the address being claimed, South Fulton utility billing records show Smith receives a bill for property at 213 West State Line.
Current South Fulton Mayor David Crocker’s father, Dr. H.D. Crocker, formerly had a dental practice at 209 West State Line — the same address listed by Smith. Dr. Crocker’s office was located in the back of a building there, while an optometrist’s office with an address of 207 West State Line is located in the front of the building, according to city officials and records.
Mayor Crocker — who is not seeking re-election as mayor — said his father sold his part of the building to the optometrist.
The Obion County Election Commission will hold a hearing during a meeting set for Aug. 30 at 8:30 a.m. at the election office in Union City to determine whether or not election commissioners think Smith resides in South Fulton. The meeting is open to the public.
“Basically, they will decide whether he resides there or not,” Mrs. Schlager said.
Tennessee law states a commercial property cannot be used as residential purposes when filing for office unless the applicant provides evidence of such residential use, according to election officials.
Mrs. Schlager said Smith has voted in two elections at the South Fulton voting precinct since he registered the 209 West State Line address as being his residence, but neither of those elections involved a ballot for a city election in South Fulton.
“There has not been a city ballot yet since he registered,” she explained.
Smith is one of two candidates who met the Aug. 16 noon qualifying deadline to seek the South Fulton mayor’s position in the November city election. The other person who qualified is Eddie Cassetty, according to Mrs. Schlager.
Staff Reporter Chris Menees may be contacted by email at cmenees@ucmessenger.com.
Published in The Messenger 8.23.12 |
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