Gallatin City Council candidate questioned over her residency

GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Gallatin City Council candidate is being questioned on her residency.

On Wednesday, Aug. 28, the Sumner County Election Commission will conduct a hearing “to resolve a challenge” involving the residency qualifications of candidate Lashonda Jones. 

According to Jones, the issue stems from her having two different addresses in her voting records: a mailing address and her physical address. 

“I thought all was well and then, the next thing you know, in addition to threatening text messages, phone calls and emails, I’m getting a notification of this hearing,” Jones told News 2 on Monday. 

Jones, a Gallatin-native running for Shawn Fennell’s “Council at Large” seat, said she did all the required prerequisites and was approved to run for public office this November. 

Then, a complaint was filed by a former councilman, which questioned where Jones lived. Voting records listed a Hendersonville address, which Jones says is where she sends her mail, but her application to run has a Gallatin address, where she says she lives. 

“The issue at hand, we were just looking at updating a voters registration card, which I have done with the commission. I’ve had this conversation with them and given all the details, but yet, we’re here,” explained Jones.

Jones said that Sumner County’s Administrator of Elections, Lori Atchley, reached out to her multiple times to explain the situation, but did so in a way that Jones did not find appropriate. 

“I found it strange, one, to be getting phone calls from her on a Saturday and then multiple calls on that Monday,” said Jones. “And then, finally, a text message that I felt was threatening and somewhat of an attempt to coerce me to withdraw before the deadline.” 

News 2 spoke with Administrator Atchley over the phone about the situation. Atchley said she was not intending to intimidate Jones, but rather, was trying to help her avoid any trouble. 

Atchley explained that Jones verbally gave her Hendersonville address to election officials in March and then signed voting paperwork that listed her residence in Hendersonville. As a result, their records do not have Jones living in Gallatin. 

This is now the second time that a candidate for public office has had their residency questioned in Sumner County this election year. Earlier this month, residents claimed that a newly-elected school board member did not actually live in the district she won. 

However, that controversy was not investigated further. Atchley explained that the circumstances were “night and day” and that school board races have different rules than council races. 

Sumner County’s Elections Commission will now review Jones’ situation on Wednesday evening and determine whether Jones is eligible to be on the ballot come November 5th.

“I’m going to push ahead because my determination and my Why is stronger than the opposition. And so, I feel like and I know that those that are with me are way more than those that are against me,” said Jones.