PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County Auditor Donna Eldridge has ruled that a residency challenge by one county commissioner candidate against another was insufficient to remove him from the ballot.
The complaint was filed by Dan Youra against Tim Thomas, both Republican candidates for the District 2 commissioner’s seat now held by Democrat David Sullivan.
One of the three candidates will be eliminated after the
Aug. 7 primary, with the top-two vote-getters moving on to the Nov. 6 general election.
Youra claimed that Thomas did not live in District 2 when he filed for office May 18 and that his residency in the district he seeks to represent is fraudulent.
Eldridge wasn’t convinced by Youra’s evidence, ruling that “the challenger has failed to provide the ‘clear and convincing evidence’ . . . that would allow me to declare [the registration] invalid.”
“There was a high burden of proof required in this case, which Mr. Youra did not meet,” said Chief Civil Deputy Prosecutor David Alvarez, who advised Eldridge prior to her ruling.
Thomas did not return a call requesting comment Tuesday.
Thomas had said earlier that he intended to change his legal residence from District 1 to District 2 in order to challenge Sullivan and had planned to move to a property he owned at 18 Hope Lane to establish residency.
On May 18, the last filing day, he determined the address was in District 1, so he rented a home at 140 Swaney St. in Irondale and moved in that weekend.
During the following weekend, Youra visited the Irondale address, taking a picture of the residence, which he used as evidence that Thomas was not living there.
Questioned by Alvarez, Thomas said he did not stay in Irondale that weekend because he was involved with the May 19 grand parade for the 77th annual Rhododendron Festival and decided to stay at 2281 Hastings Ave., where he no longer lives.
Thomas said he has spent almost every night at Swaney Street since declaring his candidacy, though his family does not always join him there.
His son, who just graduated from high school, will continue to live at the Hastings Avenue address, while his wife stays at both places, Thomas said.
Where his school-age daughter lives is yet to be determined, he said.
Youra said he intends to continue his challenge but not in Superior Court, “which would cost me the money that I need to spend on my campaign.”
He said Tuesday that he will file a motion of reconsideration to the Auditor’s Office that will allow him to get new evidence in the record.
“Mr. Thomas basically confessed that he didn’t live in Irondale during that critical weekend when he was filing for office,” Youra said.
“I find it disturbing that the auditor made her ruling in light of that confession.”
Youra said Thomas’ action continues a long-standing trend of Port Townsend’s lopsided control of county government.
“To have a Port Townsend resident representing the rural district is another indication of efforts on behalf of Port Townsend to control the destiny of the county,” Youra said.
Youra said Thomas’ residency status would continue to be an issue in the campaign.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
