Residents in Cleveland's Hough neighborhood gathered in front of the declared home address of Ward 7 council candidate Basheer Jones, wondering if Jones is legally living there.
Cuyahoga County records indicate the home, once owned by Timothy Roberts, was transferred to Nationstar Mortgage in a sheriff's sale four months ago, in a foreclosure.
Residents wonder how Jones could still be renting there, and declare the house as his home address when it's now owned by the bank.
Joice Harris told News 5 she believes the Jones candidacy is in question and feels the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections didn't do enough to validate the address.
"He should pull out, or he should pull more petitions, that's what we see," said Harris.
"The board didn't do enough checking. Someone has fallen through the cracks on this job. That someone needs to be held to task."
Residents say they have filed a formal complaint with the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.
News 5 contacted Basheer Jones, and he responded quickly.
Jones claims he wasn't aware the home had fallen into foreclosure, that Roberts never told him about the sheriff's sale.
Jones said he's now in the process of finding a new Ward 7 address and is prepared to file new petitions for his candidacy for the September 2017 primary, if he has to.
"Yes, yes I live here, I have a residence here," said Jones. "Yes, I rent here."
But when we asked him how can he rent here, if the home is owned by the bank in a foreclosure, Jones simply answered, "That's a great question."
The situation is the subject of an April 19 hearing at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.
News 5 will follow-up on this case.
