Just eight days before ballots are due, three residents from District 2 have filed a lawsuit against city council candidate Alejandro Barrientos to disqualify him as a candidate for their district, saying he does not meet the residency requirements for that office.
The lawsuit, filed by residents Elaine Rosato, Larry Keyser and JB Freeman on Monday, cites public court documents for Barrientos’ divorce in June 2024 where he and his now former wife stated they were living in separate homes since May 1, 2024. It also cites reporting by RANGE journalist Erin Sellers, who broke the story last week that Barrientos’ divorce documents stated he did not live in their District 2 home.
The three residents filing the lawsuit are represented by local attorney Jeffry Finer and are all registered voters in the district. According to the lawsuit, none of the listed residents are financial supporters of either candidate for District 2.
The case wouldn’t be heard until after the election results are certified and only if Barrientos wins. If a judge decides he is not eligible, the court could order that he not be sworn in. It’s unclear if his opponent, Kate Telis, would instead automatically win in that case or if the city council would have to appoint a new council member.
Barrientos told RANGE in an interview that his living arrangements during the divorce were mixed, with him sometimes staying at their family home in District 2 and other times staying in their condo in District 1, which is the address he listed with the courts. He also said he stayed with his brother in Cheney at times and in California for work.
The Spokane City Charter states that a person must have resided in their respective district for one year before filing to run to be eligible for candidacy. Barrientos filed to run in early May of 2025, and his living arrangements were complicated prior to that, he said.
“Regardless of where Mr. Barrientos owned property, or visited, or had a key, or felt at home, between April 30, 2024, and May 30, 2025, his divorce declarations under oath and his interview statements to Range News directly contradict any suggestion that he resided in District 2 for the requisite one-year period immediately prior to filing,” the lawsuit says.
Barrientos, for his part, says he’s always considered District 2 his home and he’s ready to fight for his seat in court if he wins.
Find our full story, cited in the lawsuit, here.
Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the courts do not have to hear the case until after the election results are certified.
