Politics & Government

Marilyn Swinney Responds to Backlash From Eligibility Hearing

Swinney had challenged the residency of Snellville City Council candidate Alisa Boykin.

Marilyn Swinney, the Snellville resident who filed a complaint against city council candidate Alisa Boykin, has issued a statement regarding some backlash she's received. 

Last Thursday (Oct. 5), the city held a hearing regarding the complaint filed by Swinney. She alleged that certain documents, including a Nov. 2012 voter registration application that showed a Loganville address, indicated that Boykin had not been living in Snellville for a full year and thus was not eligible to run for council.

Election Supervisor and City Clerk Melisa Arnold concluded that Boykin's residency in Snellville was undisputed due to documents proving that she and her family had lost their Loganville home in 2011 from foreclosure and they had decided to move in with her sister in Snellville. 

Since news broke of the hearing, Patch has received numerous comments on articles and on Facebook supporting both sides of the issue. 

"Had she told the truth before, her address would not have been questioned. Honesty is a great trait for a candidate. She just doesn't seem to have a lot of honesty in her life," wrote Kenneth Stepp.

"... I understand fully that candidates need to be vetted so that the voters can make the choice that they deem best," said Martina Young. "However, accusing someone of half-truths and finding her guilty before having the opportunity to prove otherwise is wrong."

"Not much doubt Ms. Boykin lived in the city for a year. Not much doubt she violated voting laws. Not much doubt violating laws is a way of life for her. Not much doubt she is unfit to be a council person," wrote Will Thompson.

Boykin's sister, Rita Wagner, also made her point on the issue. 

"... what this sounds like to me is that you are trying to build a racial profile against a[n] African American woman by addressing financial issues that you are incorrect about," said Wagner.

Swinney gave a statement to Patch on this particular comment.

"I, nor anyone else [I know] has ever used, said or implied 'racial profiling.' Don’t make trouble where there is none. This was a challenge of residency only," she said. 

"It upset me," she continued. "I'm not trying to cause trouble. I just want it known that that was the first time I ever heard anything on racial profiling, and I don't want it to be that. That was not what we went there for." 

What do you think about the issue? Tell us in the comments below.


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