Published: Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009 / Updated: Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009 06:44 AM

Clover school board member Magee's residency questioned

Challenger urges others to attend York County Registration and Election Commission's meeting today

LAKE WYLIE -- The York County Registration and Election Commission will meet today to consider a challenge of Clover school board member Bob Magee's legal qualifications to serve on the board.

The hearing is in response to resident Sherri Ciurlik's challenge to determine whether Magee should legally be able to continue to serve on the school board since selling his Lake Wylie home last year.

Ciurlik contends Magee does not qualify as a legal resident in the Clover school district. Magee claims that he does meet the requirements. He said his wife, Sandra, took a temporary assignment with Duke Power at the Oconee Nuclear Station and lives near Clemson. But Magee said he maintains a residence in Clover.

"I'm in sales, and I travel all over the place," said Magee, now serving his second term. "Clover is my home base."

On Friday morning, Ciurlik sent a mass e-mail urging residents to attend the meeting.

Ciurlik has contested Magee's board service since May. She says she represents "a group of people who are concerned" and has contacted the state attorney general and governor's office about the issue.

"Mr. Magee has done some wonderful things for the students in Clover," she said.

"It's not a personal attack. If anybody on the board didn't live in their area, it would be the same thing."

Greg Reid, Clover school district spokesman, said any decision made tonight will be followed by the district.

"It's a difficult issue," he said. "As far as we know, everything's legal. We'll listen to what's decided at the meeting, and we'll go from there."

Until a decision is made, the district remains supportive of Magee, Reid said.

"He's had many years of service and he really does have the children's issues at heart," he said.

Magee is in his second term on the school board, occupying the Bowling Green seat. The elected post is an unpaid position.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to have my side of the story presented, and I'm looking forward to having a group of knowledgeable people at the election commission to show what the law is in this situation," he said.

The hearing will be held at 6 p.m. at the E.C. Black Building, 13 S. Congress St. in York. The meeting and the hearing are open to the public.

For more information, contact the York County Registration and Elections Office at 803-684-1242 or 803-909-7194.