Committee backs bill to require county commissioners to reside in their districts

The Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee voted to recommend House Bill 78, which clarifies residency requirements for county officers in counties that have been district-based.

Representative Glenn Turcotte, the bill’s prime sponsor, told the committee the bill corrects an oversight from a prior session and “says that, for the county officers, not only do you have to be live in your district to be elected, but you also have to remain there, permanently while you are, an elected official of that county.”

Public testimony included residents and former officials who described local incidents that motivated legislative action. Timothy Gorgon, a Stratford County resident, said voters in one district knowingly elected a commissioner who lived in another district and that the electorate had not objected to the choice; he urged simpler statutory language but acknowledged the voters’ choice. Brian Sciruccello, a former state representative and county commissioner, described a prior episode in which a commissioner moved out of the district after election, faced calls to resign and “lawyered up,” leaving constituents without the representation they expected.

Committee members discussed drafting options. Some said they preferred simpler wording emphasizing domicile, while others argued the present bill’s language — which includes phrases such as “resides actually and permanently” — achieves the goal and would speed the bill’s progress because a change would require the bill to return to the House. Senator Tim Lang offered to follow up with Stratford County stakeholders before the floor vote.

The committee moved the bill ought-to-pass and then approved consent; members said they would make inquiries as needed before the measure proceeds.