Montgomery City Councilwoman Marche Johnson didn’t attend a Tuesday council meeting after a report questioned whether she lived in the district she represents.
1819 News reported on Saturday that Johnson appears to live in a home in City Council District 7, not District 3, which Johnson has represented since 2021.
Johnson purchased the home in June 2024 for $359,900 with a VA loan, despite having been elected to represent District 3 since 2021.
She also has a property tax exemption listed on the home, which would indicate the home is her primary residence.
By statute, members of the Montgomery City Council are required to live in the district they represent.
Montgomery City Council president CC Calhoun told WAKA on Tuesday that the council was investigating the matter.
“She has assured me that she lives within the district so we’re doing a fact-finding exercise right now to figure out what we got. We know what was reported. As of right now, in the council’s opinion, she’s still a council member until proven otherwise, so that’s what we’re looking at at this point,” Calhoun said. “The burden of proof, I put it on her. It’s out there, the allegations that you’re not living in the district. Prove the people wrong and continue to serve your citizens that voted you into office. If it’s proven that she’s not living (in her district), then the council would have to pass an ordinance to vacate the seat.”
According to city ordinance, members of the Montgomery City Council "shall have been residents of the district which they represent for at least six months prior to their election, and shall reside in the district during their terms of office," and "if the councilman shall cease to possess any of these qualifications or shall be convicted of crime involving moral turpitude, his office shall immediately become vacant.”
A spokesperson for Johnson didn't respond to a request for comment from 1819 News on Tuesday.
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