Seminole Commissioner Zembower Faces Anonymous Residency Complaint, Inspector General Reviewing

An anonymous complaint filed through the Seminole County Clerk's Fraud, Waste & Abuse Hotline alleges that Commissioner William "Jay" Zembower does not actually live in the District 2 seat he has held since November 2018, setting off a review by the clerk's Division of Inspector General that could ultimately be forwarded to law enforcement or ethics authorities.

Zembower, who won re-election in 2022 and has served more than seven years on the board, disputes the allegation. He sent the Sanford Herald copies of his voter registration and driver's license, both reflecting a Winter Springs address within District 2. Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Grant Maloy did not minimize the matter, stating: "This situation raises serious concerns that should be addressed immediately to preserve public confidence in local government."

The complaint, filed anonymously, presents a detailed paper trail pointing toward Chuluota, a rural community in Commission District 1. The tipster provided juror records listing Zembower's residence as Chuluota rather than Winter Springs, and alleged that he requested mail-in ballots be sent to a Chuluota property while registering and voting in Winter Springs. The complainant also submitted records purportedly showing Zembower's vehicles, trailers, boats, and a motorcycle registered to the Chuluota address, along with corporate filings allegedly linking his business to that same property.

Campaign paperwork adds another layer of complexity. According to the complaint, a 2022 contribution Zembower made to Governor Ron DeSantis' reelection campaign listed three separate addresses: Chuluota, Winter Springs, and a business address in Altamonte Springs.

The Seminole County Charter and Florida Statutes set residency requirements that Maloy's office described as "clear and mandatory for elected officials," adding that any confirmed evidence of an official living outside their represented district "would be improper and inconsistent with the law." The anonymous complainant pushed far beyond a simple review in their demands, calling for Zembower's immediate resignation, criminal investigations into potential voter and registration fraud, and a full ethics review.

The Division of Inspector General, which operates within the clerk's office, is conducting the initial review and will send any findings to the appropriate authorities. No formal law enforcement investigation, criminal charges, or ethics rulings have been reported as of this writing. The complaint was filed anonymously, and the complainant's identity and motives remain unknown.

The district question itself carries significance. Chuluota sits in Commission District 1, while Winter Springs, where Zembower's voter registration and license are registered, falls within District 2. Whether the records cited by the complainant establish actual residency in Chuluota or reflect ties to property and business interests there is precisely what the inspector general's review is expected to address.