While the City Council said the delay was because it was waiting
for the ballots to get officially certified, the delay came on the same
day the Councilman-elect Mathieu Eugene’s candidacy was questioned due
to his residency.
Eugene beat out nine other candidates this week to win in the
district that includes Flatbush and Crown Heights, but Eugene lives in
Canarsie.His spokesperson says the law gives council members time to establish residency in their district post-election.
But some election experts disagree.
“He can’t be sworn in,” said Jerry Goldfeder, an election lawyer.
“The Board of Elections can’t certify him, and it can’t be changed
after the fact.”According to the Board of Elections, the law states that candidates
must reside in the district when the voters elect them. But the Eugene
campaign says that will be official when the board certifies the
ballots, giving him time to move.While Eugene was not available to comment, his campaign says he
signed a lease for a three-bedroom apartment in the district for
February 1st, and is waiting to be sworn in before he moves into the
residence.