Broward County Commissioner Chip LaMarca told REDBROWARD he would be “happy to provide a Google Map” with directions to his Democrat opponents for the Florida House District 93 seat. Why do Emma Collum and Stephanie Myers need a map to find District 93? According to voter registration documents and property records, neither woman actually lives in District 93. Serving first as a Lighthouse Point City Commissioner, then as a Broward County Commissioner, LaMarca has served residents of District 93 for nearly 15 years.
Republican George Moraitis, a Fort Lauderdale resident, currently holds the District 93 seat. Due to term limits, Moraitis is unable to seek another term. So why are Collum and Myers running for a seat in a district which they don’t reside?
Simple.
Collum and Myers live in District 94 which is represented by fellow Democrat Bobby DuBose.
Neither political newcomer would stand a chance of unseating DuBose, so they have decided to play the residency game.
BROWARD DEMOCRATS LOVE THE RESIDENCY GAME
In April 2013, this reporter revealed Perry Thurston claimed to be living with a convicted felon in a small home in Lauderhill, rather than with his wife and children in the two-story home they own outside his House district. Broward County Property Appraiser records show Thurston owns a two-story home with his wife in Plantation in Florida House District 99.
Subsequent investigations by this reporter found other local politicians playing the residency game. The list included State Senator Maria Sachs, Rep. Lori Berman, Palm Beach Supervisor Of Elections Susan Bucher, Rep. Joseph Gibbons, Rep. Jared Moskowitz, Rep. Hazelle Rogers and County Commissioner Dale Holness.
According to Section 15, Article III of the Florida Constitution requires state legislators to live in the districts they represent.
By January 2014, the investigations by this reporter resulted in proposed legislation to force compliance with the Florida Constitution. Lawyers for the Florida House and Florida Senate released a memorandum outlining the Legislature’s authority to develop a “clear set of principles to evaluate the residency of its members in the event of a properly-filed challenge.” The Florida Constitution requires legislators to “be an elector and resident of the district from which he or she is elected.”
According to state records, Stephanie Myers is registered to vote at her home located in District 94.
State and local records show Emma Collum has never lived in District 93 since moving to Florida.
Records show Collum, a New York lawyer, has lived at three different addresses in Plantation. The City of Plantation is definitely not in District 93.
According to her campaign website, Collum and her husband, “reside in in Downtown Fort Lauderdale with their rescue dog Daisy.” Collum is registered to vote at a “downtown Fort Lauderdale” address, but the condominium lies with District 94 not District 93. (Records show Collum’s husband is still registered to vote at Plantation address).
Are no Democrats living in District 93 willing to run for office? Will Myers and Collum move into District 93 any time soon?
