FROM STAFF REPORTS
The Iredell County Board of Elections will hold an evidentiary hearing on a challenge to Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education member Abby Trent’s voter registration on December 1.
Despite what one Board of Elections member called “ambiguous” evidence, the Board determined that Jill Schooley, who filed the challenge, had demonstrated in a preliminary hearing on Friday that there was probable cause to conclude Trent had moved out of her voter precinct and that the Board should hold a full hearing on the matter.
Schooley’s challenge came on the heels of an effort by I-SS Board members Mike Kubiniec and Anita Kurn to have Trent removed from the school board on the grounds that she no longer lives in her I-SS District. The I-SS Board declined to take action on that issue during its November meeting.
Trent conceded that she moved from her residence on Mulberry Street in Statesville to a family-owned home on Old Mountain Road in August. But she said the move is temporary, and she plans to move back to the Mulberry Street house after renovations are completed.
By rule, Trent was not allowed to present evidence during Friday’s preliminary hearing.
“I appreciate the attention of the members of the board to this matter,” she said afterward. “Today was a preliminary hearing and only the challenger was allowed to speak and provide information. I am looking forward to the December 1 hearing to present the actual facts and give a true version of what has happened regarding my temporary residency issues.”
During Friday’s hearing, Schooley testified that she and her son had driven by the Old Mountain Road “numerous times” and observed Trent’s vehicle parked there. Her son drove by about 11:30 p.m. on Thursday and saw the vehicle, she told the Elections Board.
In support of her challenge, Schooley also submitted a photo provided by Kubiniec as evidence, along with online photos showing Trent’s “permanent” residence listed for sale. Schooley also introduced evidence provided by Kubiniec showing that Trent had her mail forwarded to the Old Mountain Road home.
During the Board of Elections public deliberations, Chairman Alan Carpenter said photos posted with the Mulberry Street home’s online listing could be construed as evidence that Trent had permanently moved out.
“She had removed every stick of furniture out of the house,” he said. “How can that be your domicile when you don’t have a bed or couch?”
Trent notified I-SS officials that she was temporarily moving this summer because the Mulberry Street home needed repairs. The home was owned by her grandparents at the time. They added her to the deed in November, and the house is no longer on the market.
If the Board of Elections determines that Trent does not live in her voting precinct, it would strengthen the case of Kubiniec and Kurn to have her removed from office because she would no longer be registered to vote in the I-SS District that she represents.
Trent claims that the efforts to unseat her are part of a concerted effort to retaliate against her for voting with three other I-SS Board members to remove Kubiniec from his position as vice chairman. Chairman Bill Howell spearheaded that effort after receiving numerous claims about Kubiniec’s treatment of school district employees. The I-SS Board is expected to vote on a motion to censure Kubiniec in December.
After Howell made his intentions clear during a public meeting, Schooley’s son, Micah Phelps, sent a text message to Trent’s mother, Angela Matthews, warning that there would be a price to pay.
“Joshua and Caleb are coming jezzebelle, and they are going to rain fire and brimstone over your nasty wicked self,” Phelps wrote.
The Board of Elections voted 4-0 on a motion to proceed with a full evidentiary hearing on December 1. Board member Bob Crosswhite recused himself from participating in the hearing.
Related
♦ I-SS Board to consider motions to censure Vice Chair Kubiniec, strip him of leadership position
♦ I-SS Board ousts Kubiniec from leadership position; Kelly elected new vice chairman
♦ Kubiniec and Kurn attempt to have Trent disqualified from seat on I-SS Board
♦ Kubiniec’s effort to remove Trent from I-SS Board followed his campaign manager’s promise of ‘anarchy’
How cute, the puppet master and mommy riding around spying on people together.
The question that needs to be pursued is why was there became such a huge falling out between the puppet master and Angela Matthews? He used to fawn all over her on the Patriot Corner radio show.
We mustn’t worry about the puppet master too much. A man with his leadership and political skills will be in high demand this upcoming election cycle.
This is like watching a Netflix series. Lots of twists and turns. When I think I’ve got it figured out … Bam!
At least Abby is from here. All the pot stirrers are from somewhere else.
Captain Krazy- New York
Puppet Master Micah Elon Phelps and Mommy Jill Schooley – West Virginia
Paula/Ed Mimnaugh – Montgomery County, Maryland
All elected officials are scrutinized in one way or another. At times, it is to insure they are following the law. For those not aware or for those assuming malice is involved in bringing Trent’s residency to light, the NC Constitution and several NC general statutes state that that elected officials must live in the districts they serve. There is absolutely nothing wrong in making Trent’s constituents and the school district at-large know that there was evidence to suggest she moved from the district in which she represents. NO ONE stated at the last school board meeting that they wanted Trent “removed” from office; yet this local medial site incorrectly accused Kubiniec and Kurn of wanting to do so.
It’s interesting to note that Howell said the Board of Elections had already ruled on this matter. Why was the rest of the school board not made aware? For those attending the Friday, November 17th preliminary hearing regarding Trent’s residency, why didn’t ‘t anyone from the Board of Elections state that a ruling was already make on her behalf?
I would hope that anyone living in I-SS’s school district would question school board members’ residencies should it be make known that a member moved outside of his/her district. You can be sure as the sun rises that Kubiniec or Kurn would be written about in an abusively disparaging manner should this situation happen to them. For those naysayers who oppose questioning Trent’s residency (because she’s pregnant?), then I’m assuming that you’d want this law swept under the carpet and ignored. Such hypocrisy! It’s only right that Trent explains herself. Whatever the ruling, then at least it holds our elected officials accountable.
Trent does not dispute that she has moved. She notified school district officials in August that she was moving temporarily because her home needs major repair work. She told the Board then and reiterated to Iredell Free News in an interview that she plans to return to her home once those renovations are completed.
Do you need it written in Crayon?
How rude! Your level of immaturity is clearly on display with your childish comment. I did not dispute her residency. Of course, everyone knows she moved. My comment regarding NC Constitution and NC general statutes was stated as it was not mentioned in the article. It was for context. Clearly, a vote of 4-0 by the Board of Elections suggests enough information was provided to warrant further investigation. Trent will have her say, of course, as she should. What needs to be questioned is her intent, especially since the house was put on the market. Why would a house be listed for sale and be available for showing if her intent was to return? In addition, what should be considered a “temporary” move? How long is a reasonable amount of time? Which I-SS officials were made aware? Why didn’t anyone from the Board of Elections state that a ruling was already made on her behalf, according to Howell? These are reasonable questions to ask. There is certainly reason to believe that intent counts, but what she says can be overridden by what she does. Her conduct has more evidential value than her expressed intent. If she can defend her position and the Board of Elections rules in her favor, then so be it. At least then, as I previously stated, she is being held accountable and we can put the issue to rest. (As an aside, urban dictionary has an interesting definition of “dankenstein.”)
Keep it up people. You may get a series for television after all.
Apparently we’ve added a new middle school at no cost to the taxpayers. Stay tuned to see what the mean girls do next!