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Does Richmond city councilman live in his district?

Posted at 3:39 PM, Feb 03, 2012
and last updated 2012-02-27 09:51:05-05

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - The law is clear. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, a local or state politician must live in the district he or she was elected to represent.

What remains unclear is how some politicians define where they live.

First elected in 2006, Richmond City Council member Doug Conner was re-elected in 2008 to represent the 9th District of Richmond.

Richmond's 9th District spans a section of South Richmond that stretches from Midlothian Turnpike south to Walmsey Boulevard. and from Chippenham Parkway east to Broad Rock Boulevard. [Click here to see a district map]

Questions about Councilman Conner's primary residence were raised during previous council campaigns. As November's election approaches, those questions resurfaced.

Councilman Conner told CBS 6 investigative reporter Catie Beck that he lives in a house along the 5300 block of Germain Road. An address that sits within the city's 9th District.

However, during Beck’s investigation new questions about the councilman’s primary residence surfaced.

Beck discovered Councilman Conner owns two additional properties. One home is in a Chesterfield county suburb; a 30-minute drive from the district he represents.

Tonight on the CBS 6 News at 11, Catie Beck questions Councilman Conner about whether he’s living in his district and abiding by state law.