The Rooster challenges City Council candidate Tiara Ross
She doesn't even go here.
Moments ago, at the Franklin County Board of Elections, The Rooster filed a residency challenge against City Council candidate Tiara N. Ross.
Ross, a lawyer with the Columbus City Attorney’s office, is seemingly the Franklin County Democratic Party’s ordained candidate for the 7th Ward City Council seat, currently held by placeholder Otto Beatty III.
Columbus City Charter § 6 requires that council candidates live within their declared district for one year before their respective party’s primary.
I believe clear and convincing evidence shows Ms. Ross, a longtime resident of Reynoldsburg, did not satisfy that simple requirement because she moved into District 7 sometime between August 11, 2024, and September 22, 2024.
Here is a redacted copy of the letter submitted to the Franklin County Board of Elections:
Even in the most charitable interpretation, it’s noteworthy that Ms. Ross has never voted for any City Council candidate and only moved into Columbus when it was most beneficial to herself.
District 7 deserves a candidate who has lived in the district and knows its needs and challenges.
The next step will be a hearing with the Board of Elections, likely at its next meeting on March 3.
The Rooster looks forward to presenting that case to the public, and we’ll have more on this story as it develops.
Hey this is my district, I should file to run
Well, done!