Letter to the Editor: It’s Not About Race, It’s About Truth and Character
Actually, the hearing held on 11/22/23 by Lexington County Election Commission failed to
verify Phyllis Coleman’ true residency in City of Columbia because it failed to follow the law 7-
1-25(D). But only verified that she changed her address to 7336 Mowers Street from her City
of Columbia address on 8/17/23, and I had already provided the documents to them, SLED,
Citizens of Irmo facebook page, that she had changed her voter registration to Town of Irmo
on 8/11/23.
There are 10 items under 7-1-25(D) that decide an individual’s “domicile”, not 2, and that law
says you can only have one “domicile”. Homes, residences, are not the same as “domicile”,
and no one, not me or others ever said she couldn’t have two or more homes. I, we, the law
says you can only claim one as your domicile, but we’ll get to that later.
What is truly appalling and more than “borderline racist”, is voting for someone or supporting
someone for an elected office, because of the color of their skin. Martin Luther King stated
that he hoped Americans one day would “not be judged by the color of their skin but by the
content of their character,”. I was raised to vote for people based on their character and who
is best, not based on the color of their skin. It seems now it is acceptable to promote or vote
someone, solely, on the color of their skin. That was racist years ago, it’s racist today, period.
I have gone to great lengths, if you call it that, to verify that someone who wants to serve me
and the remainder of Irmo actually meets the qualifications of being a resident in the Town of
Irmo based on what the law states. Not what a candidate states. Yes, I turned in a complaint
to SLED and a few emails to the State Election Commission because of the questionable
dates she claimed she lived here in Irmo while living in another municipality and paying a 4%
legal residence tax rate for 2022 instead of 6% non-resident rate and voting in the City of
Columbia in 2022 as a resident all while claiming to live in Irmo since 2018. Yes, there is a lie
somewhere. You can’t live in one town as your “domicile” legal residence and vote in another
town, that is voter fraud. Nor can you live in one town (Irmo) and pay the 4% rate as a legal
resident of another municipality, that is tax fraud and perjury.
I wouldn’t call any of these actions honorable, but I guess some don’t understand the
definition of honorable.
She may have honorable intentions of serving Irmo, but that is not what has been challenged.
Her claiming to be a resident of Irmo when living in Columbia and voting in the City of
Columbia is what is being challenged. Serving as President of the Hyatt Avenue
Homeowner’s Association, changing her driver license and voter registration of August 2023
is more evidence of why I believe something doesn’t jive. Yes, she was born here, attended
high school here, but as Susan Walker stated in her response Phyllis then moved away to go
to college in Chicago, worked there, then moved to other areas in the U.S. before moving
back to Irmo. And Susan failed to mention that before moving to Irmo in 2018 or 2020 or
2023, whichever is the actual date, she moved to Columbia SC and then to Irmo.
I do question her integrity when she pays 4% tax rate on property in Columbia as her legal
residence and “domicile”, votes in Columbia, while claiming to live in Irmo at the same time.
And by the way, yes I moved here to Columbia from Alabama, but was born and raised in
North Carolina, and I still visit my Dad who still lives there. But that doesn’t entitle me to run
for office there. I live here. And Susan and Barry moved here from Connecticut, so I guess
Susan is stating they have no roots here. And if Gabriel is from Louisiana, at least he lives
here and has records to prove it.
Yes, many people own multiple homes, but only one qualifies by State Law as your “domicile”,
and you can only have one, not two or more. This is the Law, have to follow unless you are
special or above the law. Yes you can “establish residency where they wish to establish
residency” but again only one at a time, not two at a time.
Moving in to take care of someone is legal, but not claiming that address at the same time
you claim another as your legal residence, that is illegal. If it is your “limited knowledge” as
you state, then why are you responding before verifying and becoming knowledgeable.
What I have said from day one, which is being ignored by yourself and others, is claiming to
live here while living in City of Columbia. Gabriel and the other candidates do and did actually
live here when they filed. George Frazier didn’t, and I don’t believe Phyllis did, and they both
seem to be connected to your, yours truly, Barry Walker. And so was Jeanne Bennett back in
2021.
So for the reader, if Ms. Coleman lived in Irmo from Dec 2018 as she stated at the LCEC
hearing on 11/22/23 and voted in Columbia in 2022 then that is voter fraud. And paying
property tax to Richland County on that Columbia address at the 4% rate is tax fraud and
perjury.
If she actually moved to Irmo in 2023 then she hasn’t committed voter fraud or tax fraud, but
committed perjury at the Lexington County Election Commission hearing when she claimed to
move here in 2018 and lived her since. It can’t be both.
Again, Susan Walker stated “having faith and confidence in Phyllis Coleman to carry out her
duties as the first Black elected councilwoman” sounds racist to me. Her duties are the same
as every council member male or female, regardless of the color of her skin, or at least it
should be.
Hardy King
Actual Irmo Resident
