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As Brentwood's election to fill its mayoral and four Town Council seats nears, one candidate's eligibility to hold a council seat is still in question.

Chief election judge Mary Reed said during an April 14 Town Council meeting that challenger Nina Young was ineligible to run for Monday's election because of town charter requirements.

According to the town charter, eligible candidates for office have to have been town residents and qualified voters in the town of Brentwood for at least 365 days before they file.

"[Young] wasn't a registered voter for a year," Reed said.

Reed couldn't be reached for additional comment after numerous attempts to contact her. The town's April newsletter listed Young as an approved candidate, but the current May issue does not.

Young said she registered to vote while a Washington, D.C. resident. She moved from D.C. to Brentwood in December 2007 but didn't change her voter registration until March.

At issue is the definition of a qualified voter. The charter states a qualified voter is a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old by the election date, a Brentwood resident, not convicted of an infamous crime and a registered voter according to Section 506.2.

Section 506.2 states anyone registered to vote with the Prince George's County Board of Supervisors and who is a town resident is also deemed registered to vote in any general or special election within the town of Brentwood.

Young said the charter is inconsistent and the next council needs to revise it.

She said she didn't find out about the disqualification until the council meeting announcement. She originally received an approval letter after she filed, but then received a disqualification letter after the April 14 meeting, Young said.

"I was shocked; I was disappointed. I felt I had done everything in accordance to the rules," she said.

Young is filing a complaint with the town clerk and council, which is one course of action allotted for residents who are "aggrieved by the action of the Board of Supervisors of Election," according to the town charter.

Young said she was informed April 20 on the phone that the board of elections is maintaining its position but she hasn't received a formal letter or the legal analysis completed by the town attorney, Jason DeLoach.

DeLoach couldn't be reached for comment.

Young said if her name doesn't appear on the ballot, she will run a write-in campaign.

According to the charter, write-in candidates who win but don't meet the qualifications to hold a council seat can't hold office. The vacant council seat will be filled by the qualified candidate who received the next highest number of votes.