Legal challenge questions candidate Patty Stinson’s eligibility in Georgia House District 150 race

The judge will determine whether Stinson is eligible to remain on the ballot ahead of the May primary.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A legal challenge calling into question a candidate’s place on the ballot in the race for Georgia House District 150 went before an administrative law judge today.

Michael Mixon filed a complaint claiming candidate Patty Stinson does not meet the state’s residency requirements to run. Georgia law requires candidates to live in the district for at least one year before the election.

The judge has not yet issued a ruling, but Stinson released a statement addressing the matter.

“The hearing today lasted about an hour. I think it went well. Mr. Mixon, Michael Mixon, the challenger, testified that after talking with his brother, who is a county commissioner in Dooley County, he was inspired to submit such challenge because he believed that I lived in a funeral home and that wasn’t a traditional way for an elected official to be living. And so he decided to submit such challenge based off the fact that he believed that I lived in a funeral home. I’ve never said that I lived in the funeral home. I’ve always contended that 133 Railroad St is my legal address. And there’s other structures on the property of 133 Railroad St. And that’s what I presented to my legal team and I presented to the judge, that 133 Railroad St is my legal address. That’s where I get all my mail. That’s where I claim my residence. It may not be a traditional home like he may be expecting, although he didn’t define what a traditional home is. But it’s where I claim my residence and it is where I get mail and I was able to produce all of that. But the biggest thing, I want to make sure that the viewers know, my constituents know, that I have never misrepresented where I live. I’ve never said that I lived in a funeral home. They said I lived in a funeral home. I’ve always worked hard for the good folks of House District 150 and I look forward to continuing to do so, and that includes Mr. Mixon, because he is a constituent of House District 150 and if I can ever do anything for anyone in House District 150, I stand ready to do so.”

The judge will determine whether Stinson is eligible to remain on the ballot ahead of the May primary.