Challenges to Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara’s residency fall short at commission hearing

BOSTON — Elections commission members ruled against residents challenging Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara’s place of residency during a special hearing on Tuesday morning.

Lara, who is already facing charges in connection with a crash in Jamaica Plain that left her son injured and caused serious damage to a home, returned to court as the Boston Ballot Law Commission met for a hearing on four objections to the eligibility of her nomination to the office of District Six City Councilor based on her residence.

Lara was accused of living outside District Six, the area she represents. Objectors had argued that she shouldn’t be eligible to serve on the Boston City Council because of that.

During the hearing, the commission determined that there wasn’t ample proof to nullify her candidacy.

Lara made her case to the election board stating she has lived in two different locations over the course of the time she has served. As for her two names, Lara explained why she uses two different names. “My legal name is Kendra Hicks. I separated from my husband while I was running for office and it was not pretty and he insisted I stop using his last name,” said Lara.

The Boston Ballot Commission determined that the complaining residents did not meet the burden and confirmed that Lara did meet all the requirements to be on the ballot. “The timing, just a few weeks before an election and giving everything else that is going on feels politically motivated,” Lara said after the hearing.

Rasheed Walters was one of the residents who called for the hearing. “If you look at her record and look at the recent controversy, I think anyone would have doubts about whether she is telling the truth or not,” she said.

Mayor Michelle Wu believes the residents raised a fair concern and the hearing helped resolve it. “This is the function of our democracy is that we have rules that apply to everyone and processes and procedures that are followed any time this is raised,” said Wu.

Lara is already in hot water for multiple alleged driving violations including operating negligently so as to endanger and recklessly permitting bodily injury to a child under 14, driving a car with a suspended license, and driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle.

Police have since released bodycam footage showing the aftermath of Lara’s car wreck last month.

Four lengthy videos released by the Boston Police Department feature officers speaking with Lara in the moments after the crash and an interview with a man who claimed the councilor was driving “like a bat out of hell” before she struck a house on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain on the morning of June 30.

Boston police release bodycam video showing aftermath of Kendra Lara’s crash Boston Police Department

Lara was driving more than double the 25 mph speed limit, according to police. Investigators also said that her 7-year-old son was also not adequately restrained in a booster seat, and he had to go to the hospital with injuries.

Lara has not held a valid driver’s license since 2013, yet she “regularly” drove to work at Boston City Hall, a city spokesperson said.

According to her driving record, Lara has had at least six other violations over the last decade.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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