Judge Cooper to Hear Dispute Over District 5 Board Member's Residency

Circuit Court Judge Thomas Cooper will serve as a hearing officer in the dispute over Lexington-Richland 5 board member Kim Murphy's residency, Chairman Robert Gantt said.

"Judge Cooper is an experienced, highly respected, and impartial member of the South Carolina judiciary who we have asked to determine the facts and law in this matter, rather than have the issues under any cloud of suspicion and rumor," Gantt said in a statement.

Murphy's eligibility to serve the Richland County portion of District 5 is being questioned after Gantt said he received information in October that her Chapin home is located in Lexington County. 

In December, Gantt contacted Bobby Bowers, director of the Office of Research and Statistics at the State Budget and Control Board, about determining whether Murphy's property resides in either Richland or Lexington counties.

Based on the U.S. Census Bureau, precinct maps on file at the Office of Research and Statistics, and research from the S.C. Geodectic Survey, Bowers said Murphy is a resident of Lexington County.

That claim would make Murphy ineligible to serve on the seven-member board. 

Murphy, however, said it's not true. 

Murphy's property is split between both counties, but she said she receives services from Richland County. 

Murphy has provided copies of receipts for paid property taxes in Richland County, her voter registration card and a map from the county GEOgraphic Information Systems Department of where her home is located.

She said she has lived at the home for 12 years and the board's last meeting was the first she has learned of the issue.

Murphy said she has "taken every measure and step possible to verify and validate" that she does reside in the county she represents.

"Hopefully, this documentation puts to rest any lingering questions or concerns regarding my residency and eligibility to continue serving the thousands of Richland County voters who elected me," Murphy said in a statement.

"I do not desire to spend any more time or energy on this issue. I am confident in my position and I do not feel that their claims have any merit."

Murphy told Patch she thinks the issue of her residency is an attempt to remove her from the board as she is often at odds with some members of the board.

Murphy said the time to challenge her residency was in 2010 when she was running to be elected, not years later. 

Gantt said the board is "compelled to follow the law," which requires three members to serve Richland County and four members to serve Lexington County.

Gantt is one of those members serving Richland County along with Ed White.

"The school board has no authority to determine the lines but does have the responsibility to ensure that residency requirements are met," Gantt said.

He also said there was no conspiracy among board members to remove Murphy from the board.

Cooper is expected to meet with attorneys this week to determine how both parties should proceed.