Commissioner Dan Stewart Under Fire

Commissioner Dan Stewart (D-1) is under fire for changing his mailing address to a location outside of his district.

Commissioners are required to reside in the district they represent. Stewart left his home a couple of weeks ago, when he and his wife agreed to end their marriage. Although Stewart has recently settled in to a house on Delaney Road, which is in his district, he has spent the a couple of weeks staying with different friends. Meanwhile, he had his mail sent to Stewart Graphics, the business belonging to his family. Stewart’s business office is located in the building.

Stewart has confirmed with County Clerk Lauri Braid that no one has filed a complaint about his address change, with the county clerk. However no one has confirmed whether a complaint has been filed with the state. Stewart has also confirmed that the Independent and the Argus Press will be running feature stories on his divorce and temporary displacement. Stewart has also expressed concerns about the many mean-spirited rumors that are circulating, slandering him and his wife.

Stewart is one of the Commissioners who recently criticized Sheriff Wilson for discussing an attorney-client privileged document, and for several other management problems in the Sheriff’s Dept. While it is speculated that Sheriff Wilson is behind these rumors and is calling for Stewart to step down, I haven’t found any proof of that. In fact I don’t have any evidence of who is trying to make the mountain out of this mole-hill. However it sure sounds an awful lot like the kinds of things that the Sheriff’s more enthusiastic supporters would do. Although there are partisan political ‘operatives’ who might see this as a chance to pick up a seat for the GOP, I personally can’t think of anyone who would be so dirty about it. Only the Sheriff’s most visible supporters have employed tactics like this, in the recent past.

Best wishes to Dan Stewart. Watch for stories in the Independent & the Argus to come soon.