Natalie Saint Fard, chair of the Human Rights Advisory Committee for the City of Salisbury, said on the radio program Bridging the Gap that she was disqualified from consideration for a vacant Salisbury City Council seat after officials raised questions about residency documentation.

Saint Fard told host Rich McGat that she submitted leases and payment history covering 2023–2024 and a 2025–2026 lease term and that the Board of Elections “continues to uphold” a decision not to accept her documents. She said she has asked for a written explanation and has filed a Maryland Public Information Act request for records related to the decision.

The issue surfaced as Saint Fard discussed her application for the council vacancy and recent local controversies over event vetting; an unidentified guest on the program said the city needs stronger internal vetting after a large Franklin Graham concert drew council concern for occurring close to the city’s pride events. That exchange framed some residents’ concerns about representation and inclusion on the council.

Saint Fard described her housing history to the program: she said she began living at the cited house in 2023, that her tenancy became month-to-month, and that she provided the leases and payment history officials requested. “They kept wanting more and more and more,” she said. She added she had to provide a lease when applying for ShoreUp assistance in April 2025 and that city offices gave her different explanations about who was responsible for reviewing her papers.

On the program an unidentified speaker defended city staff’s intent but said the incident showed a need for clearer administrative procedures: “Clearly, there was no ill intention on behalf of the city, but it’s very clear that we need to work on some internal processes to make sure that there is a vetting process and a screening process,” the speaker said.

Saint Fard said the city attorney reviewed the documents and that the Board of Elections has upheld the decision not to accept her paperwork. She said she was told the board wants to meet with her in person to explain its view and that she is waiting for a formal, written response.

The action has prompted local questions about transparency and the mechanics of qualifying for vacancy appointments. Saint Fard said she is pursuing records through the Maryland Public Information Act and that she will meet with the board if invited. The Board of Elections and the City of Salisbury did not provide an on-air statement during the broadcast.

Saint Fard said she remains active in community work and plans to continue advocacy even as she seeks clarity on this administrative decision.

The board asked to meet with Saint Fard, and she has filed a Maryland Public Information Act request; she said the next step is to await the board’s response and any records the city releases.