Residence Issue Hits Boyd Foe

A candidate running for the Seal Beach City Council acknowledged Wednesday that he hasn’t lived in the city for six years.

Walt Miller, a 71-year-old retired accountant challenging incumbent Shawn Boyd in the March 5 election, listed his son’s Seal Beach home on nomination papers, he said. Miller owns the home but rents it to his son. He lives with his wife in a Long Beach condominium. Boyd has three challengers in the race.

City officials said election laws require council candidates to have their primary residence in Seal Beach. The law allows candidates--such as students or military personnel--to live out of the city temporarily, but only if they intend to return, officials said.

Miller said he is willing to move back to the city and live with his son.

“I don’t live there, but I will if that’s what it takes,” Miller said.

Miller has not lived in Seal Beach since his 1996 divorce.

The question of Miller’s residency came up at a candidate’s forum at City Hall on Tuesday. Miller said Seal Beach is his “domicile.”

City officials said Wednesday that a domicile in election law is considered the principal place of residence.

Miller said he has deep roots in the community. In addition to the home where his son lives, Miller owns vacant land on Seal Beach Boulevard in Old Town, where he has been trying to build a home since 1987.

“I own property here [in Seal Beach], I want to build here and I have plans to build here,” Miller said. “My car’s registered in Seal Beach, my driver’s license says Seal Beach, everything I own is in Seal Beach.”

City officials said they must accept what Miller put on his nomination papers. If someone challenges him, the district attorney’s office would investigate, they said.

A spokeswoman for the district attorney said no investigation is underway.