Well, this is interesting. From the Washington County Insider:
January 13, 2021 – Hartford, WI – The State Elections Commission will meet Friday, January 15, 2021 in Madison to determine whether Don Pridemore has filed valid paperwork to run for State Senate District 13, the seat recently vacated by incoming Fifth District Congressman Scott Fitzgerald
The challenge by Steven Hepp, received Monday, January 11, 2021, questions Pridemore’s residence listed on his nomination paperwork. The address is 459 Abbot Avenue, Hartford. That address is also the primary residence of Hartford Mayor Tim Michalak and his wife Annemarie.
“Yes, that’s where I’m living with my wife Tina,” said Pridemore. “The mayor is the one renting it to me.”
Michalak also works on Pridemore’s campaign.
Go read the rest of the story for more detail. Essentially, Pridemore has a house out of the district and rents this place in the district where he spends most of his time. According to the Elections Commission:
Candidates must be a resident for one year within the state and a qualified elector of the district at the time of taking office.
Based on that, there shouldn’t be any problem. At the most, they would instruct Pridemore that he needs to be a resident if he wins. At the least, he may already qualify as a resident based on his primary residence being the rented property.
In any case, Pridemore is one of those conservatives with a backbone that the Senate needs right now. Let’s hope the Elections Commission isn’t tilting toward denying ballot access.
Sounds like this primary is getting nasty.
This is a cowardly way to win, when you try to disqualify your opponent on residency. Pridemore meets state residency, and only needs to be a resident in district to take office.
I’m not a fan of this elections complaint. Never go to Democrats to adjudicate anything. Its a Party that can’t even agree on objective science of biological sex. Simple discernment of right and wrong is lacking.
one of those conservatives with a backbone
Pretty much tells you how the Elections Commission will rule.
So, is Pridemore actually living at the house in Hartford or is he just getting his mail there?
How long has he stayed there and how long is the rental agreement.
If he is just shacking up there with no intention of living in the district, he should be booted off the ballot.
Who does he think he is, a US congresscritter?
Pridemore’s an OK dude. He’s selling his current house to his son, but through a trust, which makes closing the deal a real pain in the ass.