BREAKING: Judge disqualifies Di Cola after she defeated Keegan-Ayer in County Council race

Jillian Atelsek, The Frederick News-Post, Md.
·2 min read

Aug. 12—A Frederick County Circuit Court judge on Friday disqualified Jazmin Di Cola from the County Council primary race she won by a single vote, after her opponent, Frederick County Council President M.C. Keegan-Ayer, raised questions about Di Cola's residency.

Keegan-Ayer — who competed with Di Cola for the Democratic nomination for the council's District 3 seat — sued Di Cola on Aug. 4, arguing she didn't actually live in the district they were both seeking to represent.

Instead, Keegan-Ayer alleged, Di Cola was living in an apartment on Overton Circle, which is in Council District 1, according to state election records.

The Frederick County Charter says County Council candidates must live within the district they are seeking to represent "for at least one year prior to election or appointment."

Di Cola and her attorney acknowledged during an eight-hour hearing Friday that she was renting an apartment on Overton Circle. She acknowledged that her furniture was there and that she was receiving mail there.

But Di Cola said her primary residence was on Lauren Court in West Frederick, at a home within the boundaries of District 3. She also maintained that she was actively trying to purchase a home in the district.

Attorneys on Friday questioned Di Cola and a half-dozen other witnesses, including a neighbor from Lauren Court who said he almost never saw Di Cola at the property.

The property manager at the Overton Circle complex testified that Di Cola is a tenant there and signed a 12-month lease in May. The office manager at a Clarksville car dealership testified that when Di Cola signed documents related to a June car purchase, she used the Overton Circle address.

Frederick County Circuit Court Judge Julia Martz-Fisher said the evidence showed that Di Cola's actions violated the county charter.

"I'm sorry, because it's a very, very important issue," Martz-Fisher said. "The voters of Frederick County relied on this. ... I think it's very, very unfortunate, but I can't find any other way."

This story will be updated.

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