The Boston elections commission found that the residents challenging City Councilor Kendra Lara's place of residency did not meet their burden of proof during a hearing held on Tuesday morning.
Four of her constituents in District 6 challenged her residency last month – arguing she provided two addresses and two different names on legal documents she’s filled out over the past year.
WATCH ANYTIME FOR FREE
>Stream NBC10 Boston news for free, 24/7, wherever you are. |
The Boston Ballot Law Commission held the hearing Tuesday to determine whether Lara lives in the district she represents. District 6 includes Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury, and parts of Roslindale, Roxbury and Back of the Hill.
Get updates on what's happening in Boston to your inbox. Sign up for our >News Headlines newsletter.
Lara said she was in a midst of a divorce when she ran for office and decided she’d rather use her maiden name than her married name – and got approval from the election office to do so.
She says she moved from one address on South Huntington to Saint Rose and provided utility bills and a lease for the current address.
Lara told NBC10 Boston that she's lived in Jamaica Plain for seven years on her way into court on Tuesday. She walked away before taking additional questions.
Last month, NBC10 Boston checked out several addresses listed for Lara in Boston, but could not find her residence. Lara told the Globe that she "can unequivocally confirm" she lives on Jamaica Plain's Saint Rose Street.
These residency questions were raised shortly after her June car crash into a Jamaica Plain home, in an unregistered, uninsured car, without a valid license, in which her young son was injured, according to authorities.