One of the announced candidates for the Heights Water District board election has been determined to be ineligible to serve on the board.
Josh Benson was informed by the County Elections Office that he is not allowed to hold a board positon for the Heights Water District because he does not directly own property in the district. Benson is owner of a corporation that owns property in the water district, but state law does not permit a corporation to designate someone to hold a public position, explained Election Officer Bret Rutherford.
Rutherford said that the error was discovered during the course of validating the ballot. Officials did not initially realize that the property Benson owns is technically held by a corporation that he owns. Rutherford said that they had the County Attorney’s office look at the situation and were informed that Benson was not qualified to hold a board position.
Benson, as a designated representative of the corporation, may vote so long as he files in time to get a ballot. Deadline for absentee property owners in the water district to file to get a ballot is April 9, 5 pm.
“It is a weird mix of statutes,” agreed Rutherford, but it is his duty to follow the laws.
Seven other Height’ residents, including the three board incumbents, have filed for the Heights Water District board election which will be held on May 4. Ballots will be mailed out on April 16.
Other candidates vying for the three board positions, include incumbents Steven Blood, Donna Dinsmore, and Roger Ostermiller, as well as Ming Cabrera, Janet Carson, Laura Drager, and Dennis Cook.
