A House bill sponsored by Rep. Tommie Brown would ban a person who is removed or resigns from office over a residency issue from running for the same office again for a period of 10 years.
The bill was apparently prompted by the resignation of Marti Rutherford from her District 6 City Council post after City Attorney Randy Nelson said she actually lives in District 5.
Ms. Rutherford has indicated she may again seek the District 6 post.
The proposed bill says, "If a person, who holds elected public office, is removed or resigns from office because he or she does not meet residency requirements imposed by law for such office, then such person shall be barred from qualifying for or holding that office for a period of 10 years following the effective date of such removal or resignation."
It is House Bill 3327.
It was Rep. Brown who asked for a state attorney general opinion on whether Ms. Rutherford could be made to pay back her salary while she was serving and allegedly was living out of her district.