Court rules that London mayor can’t seek office because he lives outside of city limits
A Laurel County judge has ruled that embattled London Mayor Randall Weddle is ineligible to be a candidate in the town’s upcoming mayoral election.
Circuit Judge Michael Caperton wrote in a Tuesday order that Weddle does not reside within London city limits, “and thus, is not a bona fide candidate for mayor.” While Weddle does own a property on East Fifth Street in London, he primarily resides at a Keavy residence.
State law requires mayoral candidates to have been a resident of their city for at least a year before their election. The lawsuit had been filed in April by about a dozen London residents.
Weddle plans to accept Caperton’s decision, according to a statement from Weddle’s attorney, Carmine Iaccarino.
“Mayor Weddle has dedicated his time, talent, and treasure to making city government work for the citizens of the City of London,” Iaccarino told the Kentucky Lantern. “While he maintains that he is a resident of the City, Mayor Weddle will accept this decision, and expresses his thanks to Judge Caperton, and most importantly, the people of London. He intends to finish his term strong and will continue to do the work he was elected to do.”
In a May hearing, Weddle, neighbors, law enforcement officers, utility employees and others gave testimony, which was cited by the judge in his order. One neighbor of the London property who is also among those who sued Weddle, Justin Eversole, told the court that he views Weddle’s property daily but “ he has never seen any activity from that property, seen anyone living there, or seen anybody coming or going from there, despite the fact that he works from home,” according to Caperton’s order. The neighbor had added that as a former Amazon employee, he had made deliveries to the Keavy address and not the London one. Other neighbors of the London property said they did not see garbage set out, nor people there with the exception of someone mowing the lawn.
Laurel County Sheriff John Root testified that Weddle had asked about hiring a security detail for his Keavy residence, but not the London property.
The court also visited both of Weddle’s properties.
“In the opinion of the Court, the Keavy property was the one which appeared, for all intents and purposes, to be the primary residence in which Weddle and his family live their day-to-day lives and spend the majority of their time,” Caperton wrote.
The judge said the “size and scope of the closets” at the Keavy address “was indicative of people who intend to reside and remain at the residence.” It included a “fully-furnished and well-stocked playroom for Weddle’s son” as well as parked vehicles outside, functioning utilities and pets.
The London address “generally lacked many basic utilities, including a washing or drying machine,” Caperton continued. Other observations included an absence of phone chargers and only a few personal items, including “very few toys at the London location.”
Evidence reviewed by the court included recent business filings and finances records where Weddle or his wife listed the Keavy address.
Weddle told the court that a “fear for his family’s safety keeps them from staying regularly at the London address.” Within the last couple of years, he has faced scrutiny over a variety of scandals. The London City Council removed him from office last September, but he was reinstated by a court later that month.
“While the Court can certainly understand wanting to protect one’s family and to avoid situations that may be unsafe, this fear of an alleged threat without a defined end cannot be allowed to serve as a basis to stay elsewhere in perpetuity,” Caperton wrote.
In April, Weddle pled not guilty to charges that alleged he had illegally made excess campaign contributions to political committees supporting Gov. Andy Beshear’s reelection in 2023.
Weddle was the top vote-getter in the May primary election with 11 votes over second place winner, Matt Orr. They were set to face off in the fall general election.