Voter drops challenge of GOP lawmaker’s residency

Published 3:51 pm Saturday, August 16, 2014

ST. PAUL — A voter has withdrawn her challenge of a Republican lawmaker’s residency, one day after a judge said there wasn’t enough evidence to toss the lawmaker from November’s ballot.

Valerie Mondor had filed a petition to have state Rep. Bob Barrett dropped from the ballot. Mondor, who is connected to the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, contended that Barrett actually lives outside his central Minnesota district.

A district court judge said Thursday there wasn’t enough evidence to conclude Barrett didn’t live at the empty home. Barrett said he still spends time there.

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Mondor dropped her challenge Friday, and asked the Minnesota Supreme Court to dismiss her petition. The court did not immediately rule on her petition.

Barrett is trying to sell the home.