COLUMBUS — The Franklin County Board of Elections voted 3-1 on Tuesday to reject a challenge to the residency of state Rep. Ismail Mohamed, keeping the lawmaker’s re-election bid on track.
The challenge was brought by Kennedy Kent, who argued Mohamed does not live in the district he represents. Mohamed’s attorney presented evidence that the representative is registered to vote in the district, and a majority of the board sided with Mohamed.
Kent said she was “truly, truly shocked” by the outcome and vowed to keep pursuing the issue through other avenues. During the hearing, Mohamed said some of the questions raised by Kent’s attorney — including questions about his relationship and his Muslim faith — crossed the line, and he said he was glad the board saw through them.
Kent has also raised questions about Mohamed’s campaign finance reports, including two late filings and an apparent discrepancy involving nearly $100,000. The Ohio Secretary of State’s office fined Mohamed’s campaign committee $1,200 on Sept. 14. Mohamed called the finance matter a minor paperwork discrepancy that his attorney will resolve.
