By Al Dozier
The Nov. 7 election of Phyllis Coleman to the Irmo Town Council was affirmed by the Lexington County Registrations and Elections Board at a Nov. 22 hearing after a challenge was filed about her residency.
Former Irmo Mayor Hardy King requested the hearing based on concerns that Coleman was a resident of Columbia rather than Irmo. King asserted that tax records identified Coleman as a resident of Columbia.
But Coleman informed the commission that she used to live in Columbia with her ailing mother and was still paying taxes on the property when she moved to Irmo. The Irmo address, which is verified on her driver’s license, was used in her campaign filing with the state Election Commission.
The board unanimously supported her election.
But King says he plans to continue his challenge by contacting SLED, which has an election fraud department.
King says Coleman’s tax records show she was still claiming tax benefits as a resident of Columbia at the time of her filing.
He also asserted that Coleman voted in the City of Columbia elections in 2022, which she would not be allowed to do if she was a resident of Irmo in 2022.
The Irmo News attempted to reach Coleman for comment but was unable to get a response.
The elections board did disqualify another council candidate, George Frazier, from seeking a seat because residential requirements were not met.
There was a protest about the election from council candidate Gabriel Penfield, who lost by 25 votes. Penfield complained to the Lexington County Elections Board that disqualified candidate Frazier was still on the ballot and drew 72 votes that could have gone to other candidates.
But election leaders said flyers were handed out at polling locations explaining that Frazier had been disqualified. The Lexington County Elections Board voted to approve the election results.
Coleman, newly elected Mayor Bill Danielson and re-elected Councilman Erik Sickinger will officially be sworn in Dec. 5 at the Irmo town hall.
Photo from Linkedin page.
