Editor’s note: This story has been updated with a response from Addie Marie Carter.
A document was filed on Jan. 24 with the Georgia Secretary of State’s office challenging the primary residency of Republican Coreco “C.J.” Pearson, who filed earlier this month to run for the district 125 seat.
The Secretary of State’s Office has confirmed the document was filed by Grovetown resident Addie Marie Carter.
According to Carter, she heard rumors about the candidate’s residency and decided to investigate the matter herself and says she believes that Pearson may not be qualified to run.
“My concern is that if he’s elected, the Democratic party would challenge his candidacy, and we would lose a representative for our District and have to re-run the election. I am undecided on who I am supporting, I just want to ensure our district will have representation in Atlanta for next legislative session,” Carter’s statement reads in part.
Pearson is a lifelong resident of Columbia County and Georgia, he said in a statement.
“I went to elementary school in this community, attended middle school in this community, and graduated from high school in this community,” Pearson said in a statement. “Instead of making this campaign about the issues, the Radical Left and Atlanta political establishment are colluding to do the same thing to me that they’ve attempted to do to Donald Trump: kick me off the ballot using baseless and meritless claims, citing an inactive voter registration made during my time away at college more than three years ago. We look forward to the prompt dismissal of this phony political hit job and we will continue to press forward toward victory on Feb. 13.
MORE: Candidates spar in House District 125 contest
Besides Columbia County, he has had residences in Tuscaloosa, Ala. as a college student, as well as North Hollywood, Calif. for his job with Prager University.
Records show that despite Pearson’s voter registration(s), he has not voted in any jurisdiciton until this past Monday.
Columbia County Elections Director Nancy Gay verified that Pearson re-filed his voter registration in Columbia County in March of 2020, making his Grovetown address his primary.
According to the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office, Pearson’s voter registration in that state is inactive; however, documents show that Pearson filed an “Appointment of Principal Campaign” statement to run for a Tuscaloosa district four city council seat in January 2021, when he was apparently registered to vote in Columbia County.
Pearson says that he never actually ran for the city council seat and says that the residency complaints are simply a political attack.
“I think my debate performance probably scared a lot of people, and that’s why this baseless claim was filed,” Pearson said.
Multiple attack ads have recently been sent to local residents by the Georgian’s First Leadership Committee. A copy of the ads can be seen on a webpage the group activated at https://www.realcjpearson.com.
According to GA Code § 21-2-5 (2022), Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger must now turn the matter over to the administrative law judge of the Office of State Administrative Hearings to set a tribunal. The results of the tribunal will be sent back to Raffensperger to make a final determination.
Pearson is running in a special election, called for Feb. 13, to fill the unexpired term of Barry Fleming, who resigned the district 125 seat to serve as a Columbia County Superior Court judge, of which he was recently appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp.
Republicans Gary Richardson and Jim Steed are also vying for the seat, along with Libertarian John Turpish and Democrat Kay Turner.
Early voting for the race began on Monday, Jan. 22 and continues through Feb. 9. Election Day will Feb. 13.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Investigative Reporter and Editorial Page Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
