Zoe Mckey, Staff Writer
Parents and voters in Prince George’s County are outraged upon learning that a school board member has been working full-time in Ferguson, Missouri, while maintaining his elected position in Maryland. They argue that state law requires school board members to reside in the district they represent, making it seemingly impossible to hold a job so far away. While public opinion supports their view, legally, the member’s residency may still be valid, as domicile laws are complex and not necessarily tied to physical presence.
Donald Tobin, an election law expert, explains that a person’s domicile remains unchanged until they successfully establish a new one, regardless of their physical location. He illustrates this with examples of government employees who work in Washington, D.C. but maintain their original state residency. Despite owning property and being registered to vote in Laurel, David Murray’s case highlights the disconnect between legal residency and active engagement in the district. This situation, though technically legal, raises concerns about the effectiveness of representatives who are not physically present in their districts.
