CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Official complaints have been filed by two citizens claiming that City Council member Vondell Richmond is living outside the ward he represents, making him the third councilperson this year to face difficulties with residency requirements.
Richmond was elected to serve Ward 2 in 2018. His address listed with the Montgomery County Election Commission is on Cunningham Place Road. The ouster complaints, obtained by Clarksville Now, accuse Richmond of living at Renaissance at Peachers Mill apartments on West Allen Griffey Road, which is in Ward 5.
It appears, however, that the West Allen Griffey Road location is a business address.
When asked about the accusations, Richmond declined to comment.
The complaints
The first ouster complaint was filed by David Webb, a former council candidate, in the form of a letter to City Attorney Lance Baker. In the letter, Webb accuses Richmond of living outside his ward, citing “hearsay” as his reason for believing so and calling for an investigation.
The letter states that former Ward 1 councilperson Richard Garrett “allegedly knows of Mr. Richmond’s primary residency location as Mr. Richmond allegedly works for Mr. Garrett as a Realtor.”
The second complaint, filed by local real estate agent Bruce Griffy, requests an investigation into Richmond based on the claim that he lives at West Allen Griffey Road, and that the Cunningham Place address belongs to Richmond’s mother.
Griffy cites records with the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office giving Richmond’s address as West Allen Griffey Road.
Clarksville Now inspected the online records and discussed them with the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office. Those records do show 2195 W. Allen Griffey Road as an address for Richmond, however, the listing is in a business directory as a business address. The records indicate it’s the principal office for “Vondell Richmond Presents LLC,” a company owned by Richmond.
According to county records, the West Allen Griffey Road address is a rental owned by Peachers Mill Owner LLC. The Cunningham Place property is also a rental, owned by Commercial Property Associates II.
When asked about the complaints, Webb told Clarksville Now he had spoken to Baker about them, and that a third complaint is being filed.
Griffy declined to comment.
Recent council residency issues
Richmond is the third city councilperson to face residency issues this year.
Former Ward 1 councilperson Richard Garrett resigned his seat in July after the District Attorney’s Office filed two lawsuits against him for living outside his ward. He pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning to charges of perjury and voter registration fraud related to those accusations.
Shortly after Garrett’s resignation, Ward 5 councilperson and District 18 county commissioner Jason Knight willingly resigned both seats after harassment and damage to his home compelled him and his family to relocate.