Zebulon town commissioner’s residency questioned in election challenge

A residency challenge questions whether Zebulon Commissioner Quentin Miles lives in the town he’s represented the last four years.

The News & Observer contacted Miles for comment last week. He said he’d call back to schedule an interview, but as of Monday morning, he had not done so.

“It is unclear if the candidate truly has established a permanent domicile within the Zebulon town limits, as statutorily required,” according to a copy of the complaint obtained by The N&O.

“Please see the attached evidence [exhibits] that provide numerous and conflicting reporting of addresses over time,” it continues. “It is alleged that the candidate merely rents / ‘picks an address’ to claim as a domicile for the filing of candidacy, but is unable to thereafter demonstrate permanent residency at such an address.”

The burden of proof is on candidates to prove their eligibility to run for office, according to state guidelines. A hearing on the complaint is set for 2 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Wake County Board of Elections office, at 1200 N. Hew Hope Road.

The challenge includes more than 30 exhibits that show multiple public records including Miles’ candidacy filing, his candidate committee organization and deed paperwork.

The challenge states he originally listed his address as 615 Stratford Drive, which was bought earlier this year from Arlanda Miles. The property was purchased by BounceBack Homes, a company that helps homeowners prevent foreclosure.

The complaint states that Miles updated his address to 1608 Paperbush Court, which is located in town limits, but he is not listed as an owner of that property.

Wake County property records show that Miles owns a home at 9004 Ferrell Road, which is not in town limits.

“Sometime after the 2021 municipal elections, I heard concerns from Zebulon citizens about Mr. Miles’ residency claims at that time,” said Scott Carpenter, the Zebulon resident who made the complaint. “Upon his recent filing, these claims were echoed again.

“As I looked into public records, copies of which I have included in the challenge given to the Board of Elections, I concluded that there are questions that deserve answers,” he continued. “I thought that something needed to be done so that the Zebulon community could finally have answers and could move beyond these concerns.”

Political controversies in Zebulon

The residency challenge is the latest in a series of political controversies in the small Wake County town (pop. 10,505).

Former Town Manager Todd Gilbert Jr. abruptly resigned earlier this year, saying he could not take action he believed to be “unethical and inappropriate.”

Now, Gilbert is one of five people seeking the mayoral seat. The others include incumbent Glenn York, two incumbent Commissioners Jessica Daniels Harrison and Shannon Baxter and former Commissioner Larry Loucks.

A citizens group, Clean Slate Petition, organized a petition calling on the local commissioners not facing re-election this fall to resign. Only one, Beverly Clark, did so, after a series of public comments in early June.

“There is no doubt in my mind that this board is not interested in what’s best for the people, but are mainly interested in their own power, promoting their own political careers, and using their elected platform to do it,” Clark said shortly before resigning and calling for the resignation of others. “I cannot sit here and allow this to happen to the town I love. Therefore, in the best interest of the residents of Zebulon, I am in favor of having a whole new board and mayor.”

Anna Roman

The News & Observer

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Anna Roman is a service journalism reporter for the News & Observer. She has previously covered city government, crime and business for newspapers across North Carolina and received many North Carolina Press Association awards, including first place for investigative reporting.