My column the Telegram refuses to print: I've been writing columns now for sometime when I noticed coverage of some local issues were not being covered. Moving from Letters-to-the-Editor to columns comes with my listed contact information and a way readers can drop me their concerns anonymously. So I get emails some good, some, well, you can imagine. The ones I like are news tips.
Awhile back I was tipped off that our newly elected State Rep Dale Zorn may not be living in his new district after being term limited as the 17th district State Senator and a previous 4 year stint as a Monroe County State Rep (2011-2015). His political career has now continued into a new district requiring state residency compliance.
Last summer Zorn won his primary by only 7 votes then the general election against Democrat John Dahlgren. He has survived his confederate face mask scandal, taxing our pensions with a new tax he voted for in 2011 and signing on to the 2020 election fraud letter to Congress proven untrue by the courts. But questions linger as to where does our new state representative live? Much eye brow raising discussion ensued by his claim to move to Sand Lake on Pentecost Hwy (Lenawee County) from his longtime home on Ida East Road in Ida Michigan (Monroe County).
Where does Rep Zorn Live? The Pentecost Onstead Mich (in district) lake house is 576 sq ft two rooms. His longtime family home on Ida East Road, Ida Mich is 3,500 sq ft 4 bed 3 bath. Further the Lenawee county clerk's office confirms his driver license is now registered to the Sand Lake bungalow.
State laws states:
168.492 Qualifications for registration as elector. Sec. 492. Each individual who has the following qualifications of an elector is entitled to register as an elector in the township or city in which he or she resides. The individual must be a citizen of the United States; not less than 17-1/2 years of age; a resident of this state; and a resident of the township or city.
168.161 Offices of state senator or representative; eligibility. Sec. 161. A person is not eligible to the office of state senator or representative unless the person is a citizen of the United States and a registered and qualified elector of the district he or she represents by the filing deadline, as provided in section 7 of article IV of the state constitution of 1963.
One tipster says, as a neighbor, no one is ever there at the Sand Lake property and on the other hand several have said Rep Zorn can be found with regularity at his longtime Ida East Road home and his Ida auto repair business. Can an Elected official spend most his time outside his district while meeting the residency law requirements? If so is it ethical? If not then what else do we not know about when our media is not doing its job an holding these politicians accountable? Good questions! If no one is watching where would you live?
Paul Wohlfarth