KENT COUNTY, Mich. — The Kent County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) is investigating a county commissioner after allegations that he no longer lives in the county.
Kent County Commissioner Tom Antor is under investigation after allegations arose that claim he no longer lives within the county, which is required by Michigan law to sit on a commissioner board.
13 ON YOUR SIDE received an anonymous tip that Commissioner Antor no longer lived within the district he represents and is in violation of Michigan law.
After looking into the issue, 13 ON YOUR SIDE received clarification of the allegations from the County Administrator's Office.
"Kent County Administrator Al Vanderberg referred the inquiry questioning Commissioner Antor's residency to the Sheriff's Office for investigation to ensure an impartial examination of the matter," Assistant County Administrator Lori Latham told 13 ON YOUR SIDE in an email.
13 ON YOUR SIDE followed up by contacting KCSO and it appears the investigation is still in its early stages.
"We have received the information from the Kent County Administrator's Office and will start a fact-finding investigation," KCSO said in a statement.
Kent County Administrator Al Vanderberg released a statement regarding the residency of Commissioner Tom Antor:
"The Kent County Sheriff’s Office has initiated an investigation into the residency of 2 nd District Kent County Commissioner Tom Antor. This investigation was initiated after my office learned that a local television station received what was reported as a credible tip alleging that Commissioner Antor no longer lives in the 2nd District and providing specific information about an alleged address outside of the district.
"Counties generally do not investigate residency of commissioners unless and until there is a formal inquiry from a constituent challenging that residency. While this recent allegation did not come directly to my office, the specificity of it required that we contact the Sheriff about initiating an investigation.
"Prompted by questions raised by members of the commission about Commissioner Antor’s residency, my office had, however, conducted due diligence on this issue earlier this year. At that time, Kent County legal counsel reviewed the Antors’ judgement of divorce, and we contacted both the Kent County Clerk’s office and our human resources department to determine whether he had changed the listing of his residence. He had not. It was, and still is, listed as the home in Sparta. Following that due diligence, I also spoke directly with Commissioner Antor, who assured me he was still living in the Sparta residence. Absent information or evidence to the contrary, our findings were sufficient to satisfy us of his residency at that time."
The residency requirements for county commissioners can be found in Michigan Law under MCL 46.409 and MCL 46.411.
The two laws lay out that commissioners are elected by district and that “A candidate for the office of county commissioner must be a resident and registered voter of the district that he or she seeks to represent and must remain a resident and registered voter to hold his or her office, if elected."
We have also confirmed through the Kent County Circuit Court that Antor and his wife, Elizabeth, filed for divorce back in November of 2021, which the court said was finalized in August of last year. This information may also be linked to the false residency allegations.
We will provide updates as they become available.
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