GOP candidate’s voter registration challenged over vacant lot. What the clerk decided
Ada County Commissioner Ryan Davidson’s voter registration is not an issue, the county clerk’s office spokesperson said Thursday.
His opponent in next week’s primary election, Holly Cook, alleged that Davidson’s address was a vacant lot and filed a complaint with Ada County saying his registration must be canceled. His listed address is indeed a vacant lot, but ultimately, her challenge was denied, spokesperson Nicole Newby said in an email Thursday, after a review in consultation with the prosecutor’s office and Idaho Secretary of State’s Office.
“The review concluded that no vacancy has occurred,” Newby wrote. “He satisfied the challenge and remains a qualified elector. Additionally, his candidacy for precinct committeeman and county commissioner is unaffected.”
Cook filed the complaint in late April, weeks ahead of the May 19 primary that pits the two Republicans against each other. Ada County issued a clerk’s challenge to Davidson after the complaint was filed. The clerk’s inquiry is required by law after someone files a complaint, said Saul Seyler, Ada County’s elections director.
On May 11, Davidson responded, saying his family decided to redevelop their land, where there were two mobile homes and one house. The first step was to remove the mobile homes and construct two new houses, according to a copy of his response obtained via a records request.
In the meantime, he lived next door and the mailbox at his listed address was still active, Davidson said in the response. The part of the land that was for sale was the family’s attempt to gauge the market value of the plot and potentially use future proceeds to finance the construction.
“Davidson’s registration at 121 E. 36th Street continues to be valid because he is in the process of building a new home there for which he intends to return,” Davidson wrote in the May 11 response. “The only relevant question here is ‘intent to return,’ which Davidson has satisfied.”
In a statement sent via text message, Cook said she had “full confidence” in the county clerk and trusted that he had “fairly investigated” the complaint.
“I look forward to the voters’ decision on Tuesday and I’m hopeful that I’ll prevail in the primary,” Cook said.
In an emailed statement, Davidson said that the clerk found it wasn’t necessary for him to re-register at the temporary address next door.
“My opponent is trying to distract the voters from how well Ada County is run under the current Republican Commission,” Davidson wrote. “Crime is low. Quality of life is high. We’re the envy of the Pacific Northwest. Her trying to win this election by filing frivolous and meritless complaints, is downright … vexatious.”
Davidson has pointed to the case of Idaho Sen. Patti Anne Lodge, who lived outside her district while building a new home. Idaho election officials at the time gave her the green light, according to the Idaho Press.
Cook and Davidson are vying for the Republican nomination for Ada County Commission District 1. Both have a checkered background, with myriad legal and financial issues.
