Independent Candidate for Congress Defends Residency

October 3, 2012 - Questions on where the independent candidate for Congress in the Third District lives and if he is able to run in the third district, have been answered.

    Steven Porter is running against Republican Mike Kelly and Democrat Missa Eaton.

    He argues that the redistricting map has not disqualified him from running in this race.

He lives in Wattsburg, what he says is now the fifth district, but according to the United States Constitution, he is able to run for Congress in the third district.

"It's surprising to me that this question is being asked because I have lived here in this house for twelve years and this house use to be in the third district," porter said. "It's redistricted out. It's not my fault, and one of the reasons why I'm running is because I'm protesting that redistricting."

    Information from the Erie County Clerk of Records states that Article II, Section I of the US Constitution allows him to run for Congress in the third district.

The Constitution reads that you must be 25 years old, a resident of the United States for seven years and reside in the state which you're running in.