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WARREN -- Fifth Ward Councilwoman Tiffany Stanford changed the address on her voter registration to 707 Belvedere Ave. SE Friday, according to Trumbull County Board of Elections Executive Director Stephanie Penrose.
The building on Belvedere Avenue is in the city's 5th Ward.
On Friday morning, Stanford emailed a photograph to council members as well as the clerk showing her new address, 707 Belvedere Ave. SE, on board of elections paperwork, "affirming" her status as a qualified elector.
Warren Law Director Enzo Cantalamessa said based on board of elections standards, Stanford can now be considered a qualified elector.
"As of right now, if she changed her voter registration back to the 5th Ward, she would be considered a qualified elector," Cantalamessa said.
The update from Stanford comes just two days after the board of elections voted unanimously to rescind her voter registration for her previous 5th Ward home.
On her Tribune Chronicle candidate questionnaire, Stanford listed her address as 1561 Francis Ave., Warren.
The Francis Avenue home is owned by Progressive Baptist Church, where Stanford's husband Jeffery used to serve as pastor.
The board of elections challenge of Stanford's residency stemmed largely from a mortgage agreement indicating that Stanford and her husband Jeffery are co-borrowers on a house at 1186 Lynn Drive in Bazetta, according to the Trumbull County Recorder website. The agreement, through Novus Home Mortgage of Brookfield, Wisconsin, is signed by Tiffany and Jeffery for a $284,747 mortgage.
According to the mortgage agreement, the "Borrower shall occupy, establish, and use the Property as Borrower's principal residence within 60 days after the execution of this Security Instrument and shall continue to occupy the Property as Borrower's principal residence for at least one year after the date of occupancy, unless Lender determines that this requirement shall cause undue hardship for the Borrower or unless extenuating circumstances exist which are beyond Borrower's control."
The agreement was signed Oct. 13, 2023, by both Stanfords.
Stanford referred to herself as a "vagabond" without a home during the board of elections hearing.
Cantalamessa added that the ultimate determination of Stanford's qualifications to serve in Warren will be decided by council.
Council President John Brown said no special meeting has been scheduled as of Friday afternoon, but questions regarding Stanford's ability to serve on council could come up during the next regular meeting on Wednesday.
Brown said if questions arise regarding Stanford's ability to serve, he will defer them to the law department.
"We would not vote on her ability to serve at this next council meeting," Brown said.