Tuberville residency challenge appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court
FILE – Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., listens to question during a news conference March 30, 2022, in Washington. Tuberville said Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022 that the country has too many “takers” instead of workers and suggested that many in younger generations — including people in their 40s — do not understand that they need to work. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – The plaintiffs have filed an appeal with the Alabama Supreme Court challenging Republican gubernatorial candidate Tommy Tuberville’s residency in the state.
The appeal comes after Montgomery County Circuit Judge Brooke Reid granted Tuberville’s motion for dismissal last week. Judge Reid stated in her decision, that the court did not have the jurisdiction to exercise legal action used to challenge a person’s right to hold a public or corporate office.
As Action 8 News has reported, the lawsuit was filed in June by Brooke Lynn Dorgan and Justin Jude LeBlanc. Dorgan is a resident of Mobile County while LeBlanc is a resident of Jefferson County, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit claimed that Tuberville hasn’t lived in Alabama for seven years, which is a requirement in order to run for governor under state law. It sought to have Tuberville prove that he has been an Alabama resident since November 3, 2019, which is seven years before this year’s November 3 general election.
Tuberville has faced accusations that he has been a resident of Florida, where he owns a beach home in addition to a home in Auburn. Despite those questions from some, Tuberville won the Republican primary for governor with 85% of the vote in May.
Tuberville faced similar claims by Ken McFeeters, who was an opponent of Tuberville’s in last month’s Republican primary. McFeeters received 9.5% of the vote in the primary. On Sunday, June 14, the Alabama Republican Party held a hearing that affirmed Tuberville was qualified to be Alabama governor based on tax forms, property records and other documents.
No word on whether the Alabama Supreme Court will take up the appeal.
