This week I filed a residency challenge against Edward K. Rivers and Nina G. Rivers. I did so on the basis that Mr. and Mrs. Rivers attested under penalty of perjury on their new voter registration forms filed May 2, that they had resided at the address they listed on that new voter registration form, 706 Hampton Drive, for 30 days prior to the May 6 election. Public records show, distinctly, that 706 Hampton Drive was not legally habitable 30 days prior to the May 6 election.

The Riverses could have voted that same ballot on May 2 without changing their registration and perjuring themselves. Kirk Rivers apparently did not want to vote with his registration listing 101 Madeline Lane as his address given his current appeal of the Pasquotank Board of Elections ruling that he moved out of the 4th Ward. He also wanted to complete his move back into the 4th Ward prior to the hearing on his request for a stay in Superior Court.

Kirk Rivers' interest in strategic personal legal advantage should not come at the expense of compliance with the same laws everyone else is required to follow. Either our laws matter, including our residency and perjury laws, or they don't.

I appreciated Kirk Rivers' comments about "love" at Monday night's City Council meeting. He discussed love for his community, its residents and City Council. However, in my opinion, an elected representative shows a community no greater love than when he complies with the law rather than choosing to believe and behave in a manner that demonstrates he believes he is above it.

HOLLY KOERBER

Elizabeth City