by

Todd R. Hansen

Daily Republic

June 28, 2025

FAIRFIELD — The Solano County District Attorney's Office has confirmed it is "looking into" allegations that Mayor Catherine Moy is not living in Fairfield as required by law.

However, Assistant District Attorney Paul Sequeira said it is not a formal investigation.

Moy said she is living in Fairfield with family, but declined to provide a specific address for privacy and safety reasons for those family members. She also declined to elaborate on other family situations linked to her living arrangements, notably anything to do with her husband.

"I'm not going to do that. My family has had enough. It's been destructive and very painful for me," Moy said.  

The mayor confirmed that she and her husband sold their Potrero Street home she listed on her candidate papers as her "domicile." She also confirmed that she and her husband own property on Rockville Road, outside the city limits, but she is not living there.

"My sister lives in that home; she leases it from us," Moy said.

The mayor also is certain where this "political attack" originated.

"It comes from California Forever," Moy said. "They don't like me because I've been the most outspoken (against the proposed East Solano project), and have followed them longer than anyone else."

She said Suisun City Councilwoman Princess Washington, snared recently in a Napa arrest controversy, also is a target due to her open opposition.  

The mayor does not think the matter is the result of her "hot mic" comment that upset city employees who had come to a council meeting to testify about their contract situation. Moy was overheard saying "these people better stop or she'll go down there and whoop their ass."

"So this is what this is all about," Moy said. "It is politics."

California Forever was contacted for comment, but did not respond immediately.

The state Elections Code governs the topic of official residency, and it is clear an elected mayor of a city is required to live in that city.

But the code language defining "residence" and "domicile" can be nonplus.

The code even confusingly states that "residence, for voting purposes, means a person's domicile."  

A domicile, the code states, is where the person intends to return to as the permanent place to live. By definition, a person can have multiple residences.

In order to run for an elected office, a candidate must list on the nomination papers the address of the domicile location, but the word used is residence.

The code does not address the issue of residency after being elected, but county Assistant Registrar of Voters John Gardner believes the implication is clear: When it comes to a local office holder – as opposed to a state or federal official – that office holder must maintain a legal domicile within the specific area they represent.

He said if someone wants to contest whether an elected official lives within the proper jurisdiction, the complaint is filed with the District Attorney's Office.

Gardner added, "from our perspective, anytime you move we encourage you to update your (voter) registration."  Moy declined to say whether she intends to run for re-election in 2026, or whether she will pursue a different office such as county supervisor.