Flatonia Mayoral Candidate Answers Residency Questions

Flatonia mayoral candidate James Longmire sold his property in August. Some folks around town are questioning if he lives in Flatonia anymore and whether his name should even be on the ballot this November.

Longmire told the Record this week that he has not yet settled into permanent housing, and that he still gets his mail at a post office box in Flatonia.

“When I filed to run for mayor, I was not expecting the Lyric to sell,” Longmire said, referring to his former residence, the Lyric Theater in Flatonia, which has some attached apartments.

Longmire filed for election in February. He sold the theater and apartments in August and purchased the former Bohlmann Construction property in Schulenburg. Longmire said the Schulenburg property remains under commercial zoning, and he has not applied for a homestead on the Schulenburg property.

He remains an active member of Flatonia Fire and Rescue, the local volunteer fire department. Longmire said he plans to ask the fire department for permission to live in one of the town’s two fire stations. He said both stations include living quarters. Longmire said his presence at the station would help improve response time, especially at night.

“It would be a benefit to the residents,” he said.

Longmire said he rarely misses a fire call, which Flatonia Fire Chief John Burleson confirmed.

Burleson said Longmire has not yet approached the department with his plans.

“I would bring it before the membership, and the officers would have to vote on it,” Burleson said. “But he hasn’t asked us yet.”

Longmire said several other Flatonia property owners have offered him homes to rent.

“If anyone can point out to me where it says in a law that I’m not qualified to run, I’ll drop out,” Longmire said. “But right now, I don’t think you can take my name off the ballot.”

Indeed, mail-in voting has already begun. Early voting begins this week. Longmire said that even if he was disqualified as a candidate, his name you still appear on the ballot.

He faces incumbent Mayor Bryan Milson in the election. Longmire said he decided to run for mayor in order to force an election, so that the incumbent had to go to voters for approval.

“People should have to run for office,” Longmire said. “It shouldn’t be a cakewalk. Nobody ever steps up to the plate.”