Bill introduced to create residency requirement

Alexis Barker
NLJ Reporter
 
Rep. Tyler Lindholm, R-Sundance, recently introduced a bill to the Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions committee that will create a residency requirement for all county elected officials. 
The bill was sparked, according to Lindholm, by the Weston County election for county attorney, although he acknowledged that Weston County is not the first county to have an issue with residency of an elected official. 
“My original intent was to make the bill effective immediately, but after seeing the vote, it was clear that Weston County wanted Alex Berger,” Lindholm said. 
Gillette attorney Alex Berger, who challenged incumbent William Curley, won the Republican nomination for Weston County attorney in the primary election. Berger’s name appeared on the ballot only after Fourth District Judge John G. Fenn granted him a writ of mandamus allowing him to have his name on the ballot. 
“In the case of Berger, he will be good for his entire first term,” Lindholm said of his legislation. “That gives him four years to decide if he is going to move to Weston County or not.” 
Lindholm’s bill would require any candidate for county office to have one year of residency in the county. 
“I am not going after just the county attorney. This will be for all county offices including the clerk, sheriff and commissioners,” Lindholm said. 
The committee voted to advance his bill at their meeting in Thermopolis on Sept. 19, and it will be considered by the legislature in 2019.