Anson school board member splitting time between NC and Mississippi

WADESBORO — An Anson County Board of Education member accepted a full-time position based out of Mississippi in 2020 which requires her to travel back and forth frequently while still serving on the school board, but maintains that she is still eligible to hold office.

Lisa Davis, who been a school board member in Anson County for the last 20 years, previously served as the Sales Representative and Recruiting Sales Manager for Woodmen Life in western North Carolina, and on Jan. 1, 2020 Davis was appointed as the Regional Director for southern Mississippi, 2020, according to a press release from Woodmen Life. Davis says she is spending an equal about of time in both Anson County and Mississippi.

The press release states Davis would lead a team of 22 sales representatives and four recruiting sales managers “from the regional office in Flowood, MS” in her new role. However, Davis claims her permanent residence is in Peachland and she that she only rents property in Mississippi.

“I do have a promotion and it does have me working in Mississippi,” Davis said. “Hopefully, eventually, possibly, depending on how well we do, maybe making it permanent [in Mississippi], but right now I’m still back and forth.”

Davis said she travels back and forth between N.C. and Mississippi either by plane or by taking the 10-hour car ride, depending on what the pandemic allows her to do. She began this commute back and forth between states about a year ago.

“From Jan. 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021 I was in N.C. a total of 34 days,” out of 90 days during that period, Davis said in an email. She added that, in general, she spends about half of each month in Flowood and half in Peachland.

She did not respond when asked to provide documentation verifying her living situation.

Those serving on local boards – commissioners, school board, city council – must be eligible to vote in the election for the office they hold or are seeking, which requires that they live in the county where they are registered to vote. According to North Carolina General Statute 163-57, the definition of a residence for voting purposes is “that place shall be considered the residence of a person in which that person’s habitation is fixed, and to which whenever that person is absent, that person has the intention of returning.”

The North Carolina State Board of Elections website lists Davis’s voter registration status as “active” as of Tuesday, June 29.

Davis said she returns to North Carolina frequently because she considers Peachland her home. It is where her husband, kids, grandchildren, house and church are located. But, if she were to have the opportunity to work in Mississippi full-time, Davis said she would accept the position and put in her resignation with the school system.

“I will not be seeking reelection,” Davis said. “I think 20 years is long enough.”

Her term will be up in 2022.

State law does not allow other members of the public to directly challenge an elected official’s residence, but a spokesperson for the North Carolina State Board of Elections explained that there are other means to address these concerns.

“There are limited options when an elected official’s residence comes into question,” said Patrick Gannon, State Board of Elections public information director. “State law does not provide a procedure for directly challenging an elected official’s residence. One option is to indirectly challenge that by making a challenge to the elected official’s voter registration.”

North Carolina General Statute 163-85 states that, “Any registered voter of the county may challenge the right of any person to register, remain registered or vote in such county.”

Challenges can be made to the County Board of Elections. The Board of Elections would then schedule a preliminary hearing, take a testimony under oath and collect evidence from the challenger. The challenger would be responsible for the burden of proof, according to the statute.

If no testimony is given, the Board of Elections can dismiss the challenge. But in the event the challenger presents evidence and the Board of Elections finds probable cause, then the board will schedule a hearing on the challenge. At the hearing, witnesses may be called in to give testimony.

But if the Board of Elections does find the elected official changed permanent addresses, it will cancel that person’s voter registration status, which is required to hold an office position in the state.

“I’m so committed to our schools,” Davis said. “I’m such an advocate for Anson County Schools. I just want the best for them in everything.”

Davis said she hoped there would not be an issue with her splitting time between states because she would never want to hurt the district.

Superintendent Howard McLean declined to comment on the situation.