Georgia House Democratic leader says opponent doesn’t live in district

In his letter, Trammell says that Gomez no longer lives at the address he listed in his declaration of candidacy and has moved out of state House District 132. The district includes all or parts of LaGrange, Newnan, Grantville, Hogansville and Luthersville.

“This is a basic trust issue,” Trammell said. “If you can’t be honest about where you live, how on earth can you be trusted about anything else?”

Gomez did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to the complaint, Gomez listed an apartment on Main Street in Grantville as his address in the candidate affidavit he filed March 8. Property records show that Gomez’s wife Kelly purchased a home in Newnan outside House District 132 last October and sold the house they owned in Grantville on March 22.

Trammell said the apartment Gomez listed as his residence in the March 8 filing was uninhabited and, as of Sept. 1, utilities were not connected.

The Luthersville lawyer also cites a local newspaper article from Gomez's last council meeting where he is quoted as saying he was moving to Newnan. He also mentioned plans to run for higher office.

“This letter documents what appears to be a very troubling attempt to perpetuate a serious fraud upon the voters of the 132nd House District and the state of Georgia,” Trammell said in the letter, calling for Kemp - the Republican nominee for governor - to investigate Gomez’s residency.

Trammell, who has served in the state House since 2015, said he hopes Kemp’s office addresses the issue quickly.

“Residency is a requirement for the job,” Trammell said. “He literally lied on the job application about the most basic qualification for the job.”