School board candidate Bill Borden poses in 2009 with a few of the items he used during the 2002 Iditarod including his easy rider model sled, his parka with a polar bear ruff and trimmed with wolverine, polar bear ruff mittens, ‘bunny’ boots, and snow shoes made of rawhide and wood.
Three vehicles with Alaska tags - a pickup truck and two SUV models - have either been spotted at Borden's house or at his business in Kennesaw. Under Georgia law, residents must register their vehicles in Georgia and obtain a Georgia driver's license within 30 days after establishing residence in the state, and failure to do so can result in a fine of $100. It is also a misdemeanor to not register vehicles and obtain a Georgia driver's license within 30 days.
The pickup truck has a customized tag with the lettering "SLDDOG," which apparently is a reference to Borden's association with the Iditarod dogsled race in Alaska. All the vehicles also prominently reference his Kennesaw-based business, Checkpoint Mortgage Inc. - which Borden explained in an interview with the Journal last year is named after the checkpoints stationed along the Iditarod trail to help ensure racers' survival.
A motorcycle also has been seen at Borden's house bearing a Georgia license plate and with the same customized lettering as the truck, "SLDDOG."
Borden did not answer questions sent by e-mail Tuesday inquiring about the registrations of the three vehicles and also asking if he is, indeed, a resident of Georgia and if he has a Georgia driver's license.
"A person who is a resident of Georgia whose vehicles are used here routinely has to title and register the car here or be subject to citation," said Stewart Manley, motor vehicle division manager with the Cobb Tax Commissioner's Office.
Manley said the issue comes down to a person's legal residence. For most, legal residence is determined by where they live and work. An exception includes people who work out of state, but "the norm is if you live and work here and have kids in school here you're a Georgia resident," Manley said.
Borden has a son who graduated from Kell High School and now attends Georgia Tech.
In 2002, after three years of training, Borden completed the grueling 1,152-mile Iditarod dog-sled race in that goes from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. Borden has a foundation - Cool Dreams, a non-profit organization that helps promote the Iditarod - that is registered in Wasilla, Alaska, which also happens to the home of Sarah Palin.
On his Web site promoting his candidacy for the school board, Borden says he's lived in Cobb County for 27 years. Borden does claim the homestead exemption on his Shiloh Road home in Kennesaw, indicating he considers that his primary residence, according to the Tax Commissioner's Office.
Borden and his wife, Brenda, are the principals in the Kennesaw-based Checkpoint Mortgage, though the city has no record of a business license issued to that company. On their company Web site, Brenda Borden is credited with founding the company in 1996 and is the president, and Bill Borden is the senior loan officer. They also have a listing for an office in Alaska.
When contacted by the Journal, Borden's opponent, Kathleen Angelucci, a Kell High School mother and event planner in northeast Cobb, said she learned about Borden's Alaska car tags when Borden himself mentioned it to her husband, Jay Angelucci, during a recent interview with the Cobb County Association of Educators. Borden said his Alaska truck was parked outside the educator group's meeting place, and that he hadn't had time to drive back to Alaska to get "his Georgia truck" and drive it back to Kennesaw, she recounted.
Angelucci, whose race against Borden will be decided in the July 20 primary, said a portion of ad valorem tax goes to the school system.
"It seems that if you're going to represent a school system you would want your property taxes to go to that school system," Angelucci said.
The most common method in which authorities discover vehicle-tag violators is through a police traffic stop. But Manely said his office also encourages citizens to report suspected violators anonymously by calling (770) 528-TAGS.
Follow us on Twitter!
Thanks to Bring up Ethics for reminding us.
And PaulMC you are correct...very weak candidates
I think a law breaker is more evil, than a PTA party planner.
Sad state of affairs.
I'm a little late to the party here, but the following items are public record or available online for public protection:
1) Bill owns 100% of an Alaska Corporation: Checkpoint, Inc. (I'll call this Checkpoint 1) The description of business is Mortgage Loans. He incorporated Checkpoint 1 in 2002 and the latest biennial report shown online with the Alaska Secretary of State. Bill is listed as the Registered Agent (required to have a physical presence in the Alaska under state law) and lists his address as being in Wasilla, AK. (https://myalaska.state.ak.us/business/)
2) Brenda owns 100% of an Alaska corporation: Checkpoint Mortgage, Inc. (I'll call this Checkpoint 2.) The description of business is Mortgage Loans. It was incorporated in 2002 as well. Bill is listed as the Registered Agent of that Checkpoint, with an Alaska address and the Secretary with an Alaska address. That Checkpoint lists its Administrative offices in Kennesaw, GA. Checkpoint 2 was issued a certificate of authority to transact business in Georgia in 2002 and is current in its filings.
3) Brenda is the only officer in a Georgia corporation, Real Estate Custom Finance, Inc. dba Checkpoint Mortgage. (I'll call this Checkpoint 3.) Bill was the original incorporator of that business in 1996 and was on the initial Board of Directors. Checkpoint 3 currently lists the same office address as Checkpoint 1 (the Alaska corporation described above). Real Estate Custom Finance, Inc. filed an application to register its trade name (Checkpoint Mortgage) with the clerk of the Superior Court of Cobb County on June 2002. (the information is available online through the clerk's office using Internet Explorer). A trade name application is not a business license.
Under the law, all licensed mortgage brokers, lenders or loan originators are required to register through the National Mortgage Licensing System & Registry. Consumer access is available at www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Neither of the Alaska corporations - Checkpoint 1 or Checkpoint 2 - or Bill are registered, but the Georgia company - Checkpoint 3 and Brenda are. Just my opinion, but its difficult to see how Checkpoint 1 or Checkpoint 2 are legally able to conduct business anymore since neither are registered.
All corporations are required to have a registered agent in the state where the corporation is conducting business. It a legal duty upon the corporation to keep the state secretary of state advised of any changes in address - especially as to a registered agent. These laws provide consumers protection - by providing a place to serve a lawsuit if someone is injured or damaged by a corporate entity.
Again, just my opinion, but if Bill serves as registered agent for Checkpoint 1 and Checkpoint 2 with an Alaska address, he either lives there or he has made improper representations on a government required form relative to consumer protection issues.
The failure to register his vehicles in Georgia for numerous years is too absurd to address other than to say that people that want to comply with the law (and he is a JD remember) can figure out a way to comply. (ever hear of a POA for your long absences Bill? How about the US Post Office?)
What does all of this have to do with whether he should be on our (already legally troubled) school board? Well, besides the little issue that the taxing authorities and other regulatory agencies might be interested in all these Checkpoints - I'd just hate to spend the next four years with one Board member trying to figure out Bordenspeak.
Whew - I think I need a vacation at the Lacy Hotel (which apparently is not a hotel at all under Borden speak).
Your comment has just sealed my vote for the party planner. Done deal!! Thanks for letting me see that Borden's supporters are true idiots.
"The city of Kennesaw has filed suit against the owner of Swift Wheels Skate Shop, demanding $25,000 that was pledged for a temporary skateboard ramp. June Wick, the owner of Swift Wheels, responded in Cobb Superior Court on Jan. 11..." Read more: The Marietta Daily Journal - Kennesaw sues skate shop over 25 000 pledge."
Both are very angry women. Perfect for our schools, right?
As for your vehicles... why would you have them registered in Alaska if you are a FULL TIME resident of GA? Why would you pay taxes into another state if you feel so compassionate about Cobb County and want to represent its schools?
Why, why, why... Too many unanswered questions. Go run for office in Alaska along with your dogs.
soemone mentioned mafia. angelucci = italian, sounds like mafia to me.
He says that he doesn't have a campaign committee, it's just him and his wife figuring out things as they go along.
That is so not true. The mayor of Kennesaw is his campaign chair, a Kennesaw councilman is on his committiee, and he's being openly supported by other Kennesaw council people as well as the Mayor of Acworth.
Yet, Bill claims he has no experienced political help.
He must think we are really stupid.
Please, dear GOD, get out and vote and kill another attempt by good old boy politics to "appoint" someone to an important position.
Not registering cars at your home takes money from the group Borden wants to run...Very Weird.
Is this part of why Borden is so willing to raise taxes, so he can continue to avoid paying taxes to Cobb Schools?
Borden must really be in love with Alaska students, since that is where he wants to pay his tax money!
Sorry Bill (and Dr. Abe) - - - No way to explain this one.