LEWISTON – Ward 1 City Council candidate John Butler is questioning whether opponent Stavros Mendros actually lives where he says he does.

Butler said confusion surrounding Mendros’ address should concern Ward 1 voters.

Mendros said the questions are an attempt to drag his personnel life into the campaign.

“I don’t think it really matters where I live, as long as it’s in Ward 1,” Mendros said.

Mendros gave the city a sworn statement on Aug. 27 saying that he lived at 14 Judkins Ave. from June 1 through Aug. 19 and at 506 Main St. since then. Both addresses are in Ward 1. Mendros also included signed copies of leases for both addresses.

City Clerk Kathy Montejo said that is enough to meet legal requirements. According to state law, Mendros had to be a legal resident of Ward 1 before June 4 to qualify as a City Council candidate in that ward.

“The statement he presented said that he did meet those requirements,” Montejo said. “I can only go by what he shows me.”

But Butler said he is not convinced. Mendros still receives his mail at his mother’s 135 Hogan Road address in Ward 2.

“I think he’s playing the residency game,” Butler said. “I think he established an address in an area just so he could run for office. Two things bother me about that, and they should bother the residents of Ward 1.

First, should he even run? And then, if he runs and wins, can he represent the ward if he doesn’t really live here?”

Mendros responds that he does live in Ward 1, even if he does collect most of his mail in Ward 2.

“That’s no different than having a post office box and him claiming I really belong in Ward 5,” Mendros said. “I live and spend almost all of my time in Ward 1 but I keep a separate mailing address. That’s it.”

Mendros said he lived with his mother at 135 Hogan Road until May 28, when he moved into the 14 Judkins Ave. address with Kay Theberge. Theberge is seeking the Ward 1 School Committee position.

Theberge sold her house in August and moved to 133 Spring St. and Mendros took out a lease on an apartment above offices at 506 Main St. Mendros said he divides his time between his 506 Main St. address and Theberge’s 133 Spring St. address, which also is in Ward 1.

“The most anyone could say is that I spend more time at Spring Street than I do on Main Street,” Mendros said. “But that is still in Ward 1.”

Mendros said he was frustrated that Butler is bringing the matter up now.

“That’s the best he can do, I guess,” Mendros said. “He has no issues with anything politically. But honestly, I don’t know why my personal life has to be dragged out.”

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