State rep to file another stay seeking reversal of commissioner's taking office

Strafford 2 state rep Glenn Bailey, newly sworn-in District 1 Strafford County Commissioner Leslie Feliciano (Courtesy photos)

DOVER - Strafford District 2 rep Glenn Bailey has seen two requests for stays in the recent swearing in of District 1 Strafford County Commissioner Leslie Feliciano rejected by a Strafford Superior Court, but he told The Rochester Voice on Tuesday he'll be filing a third shortly.
Bailey's first filing to hold off on the swearing in of Feliciano came in minutes before her taking office on Thursday morning and was quickly rejected by the court due to the time element.
His second filing on Friday, the day after she took office, asked the court to "reverse" the swearing in, but was denied by the court on a technicality, a technicality Bailey said he can easily correct.
In Bailey's original court filing he said that the election complaint questioning her domicile eligibility had been filed to the Department of Justice way back on Oct. 4.
"Leslie Ann Feliciano allegedly claimed domicile in Farmington to file for an open position of a county commissioner in district 1 Strafford county," according to the complaint. "Swearing Feliciano in while an investigation is under way causes "irreparable harm ... and undermines legislative integrity and public trust."
Allegations by Republicans claim that Feliciano was a resident of the city of Dover at the time of her filing, which is outside of the District 1 Strafford County Commissioner seat.
Bailey, R-Milton, also argued in court paperwork that the Strafford County Delegation met on Oct. 14 where it was explicitly discussed that a Department of Justice investigation was under way, and the delegation voted to appoint her anyway.
Feliciano, who has declared herself a Republican, won the appointment in a delegation vote 18-8 over Republican Susan Rice.
It should be noted that Democrats, who have a solid majority in the Strafford Delegation, voted unanimously for Feliciano, while every Republican voted for Rice.
Feliciano told The Rochester Voice on Friday that she knows who filed the initial complaint and believes it may have been for "ulterior motives."
"I was sworn in as the Strafford County commissioner of District 1, where I grew up and raised my children," she said. "I look forward to working with the people of my district where I live and have great pride. I am looking forward to listening to them and their voice while working hard with the delegation in a positive manner. I will lead with my heart and great passion for my constituents."
Strafford County Commissioners chair George Maglaras, R-Dover, has called the claims by Bailey unfounded.
"I believe the complaint is highly political and has no merit," he told The Rochester Voice on Thursday.
In Bailey's original filing, he urged that Feliciano should be barred from being given the oath of office until the eligibility issue is resolved with the Department of Justice.
The state Dept. of Justice Election Law unit was not immediately available today to update the status of the investigation into Feliciano's domicile.