Questions remain unanswered regarding who will be Claremont’s next mayor

It’s been three weeks since the election where voters in Claremont voted to make Casey Striver the next mayor.
But as of Monday, mum’s the word, on whether or not Striver will be sworn in, and is eligible to be the mayor to begin with.
Striver ran a last-minute write-in campaign to become mayor, claiming he moved to the city recently in order to meet residency requirements.
“We have directed our attorney to contact him just verifying his qualifications and his address,” a city official, who agreed to speak on background, said.
The city official said the city attorney recommended that they could do that “since he wasn’t giving us his address.”
According to the city official, normally when candidates run for office they are required to list their address on the affidavit, unless the candidate has a court order.
Since Striver was a write-in candidate, he wasn’t required to file an affidavit, according to the city official. However, when asked for his address after he was elected, he “denied and said he wants to keep his address private,” the city official said.
City Attorney Mark Rahrick said he was unable to comment at this time, when reached previously. When reached by phone last Thursday, the city official said she had no updates and wasn’t able to comment further.
It is also unclear who, if anyone, is investigating the matter.
When asked if the Secretary of State Office is investigating, a spokesperson appeared confused.
“I have to say I’m not sure exactly what you are referring to,” the spokesperson wrote. “Our office doesn’t have investigatory authority — what is at issue in the mayor’s race in Claremont?”
Emails and voicemails left for Sheriff Scott Rose have gone unreturned about whether his office is investigating. A data request also has gone unreturned.
When reached by phone previously Striver said he proved he was a resident of the city.
“They say that but I’ve already given proof to the city attorney,” Striver said.
On Thursday, Nov. 14 the city council certified the vote total, while also approving the city attorney to verify the information which would have been required ahead of the election if Striver had filed for office.
But Striver said he thinks he did what he was supposed to.
“I specifically moved to Claremont to run for mayor and our plan was to secure a residence in that town, and we did that by buying a house, we did that we own a home in town. But we have to do work to do it before we move in,” Striver said, claiming he has a driver’s license with a Claremont address.
Asked what his next step was, Striver said he wasn’t sure as of last week.
“I don’t really have a next step, I did what I was supposed to do, I was supposed to go out and campaign, I did that, I was supposed to win, I did that, I was supposed to proof residency I did that, that’s the only make or break out of this entire thing is whether I can proof residency, and whether I can show the intent to continue to live in Claremont,” Striver said.
It is unclear at this time if Striver was given a deadline to prove his residency.
 
(Editor’s Note: The DCI will continue to provide updates regarding this situation over the coming weeks.)