Mayor of Alexander City grapples with residency complications
According to Alabama law (Alabama Code Title 11), the mayor of Alexander City is required to be a resident of the city for at least 90 days prior to filing his statement of candidacy and must reside within the city limits during his term of office. However, questions have arisen regarding the residency of Mayor Woody Baird, with an anonymous letter presented at a recent Alexander City Council meeting expressing concerns about his residence[1][3].
The letter alleges that Mayor Baird owns property within the city limits, but his primary residence is outside of the city limits. It further requests that Mayor Baird provide a current utility bill from Alex City to prove he is experiencing the financial impact of recent sewer rate increases[1].
Mayor Baird has addressed these concerns in the past. He claimed a homestead exemption on a property at 395 Moore Road, which is outside of the city limits. He also co-owns two houses within the city limits of Alexander City[2]. In response to questions about his residence, Mayor Baird stated during a council meeting that he has two residences in Alexander City, with one inside and one outside the city limits[3].
Mayor Baird has lived, worked, attended school, and supported his church in Alexander City for an unspecified amount of time. He has drawn two opponents, Audrey Colvin and Mike Densmore, in his current bid for re-election[4].
It is important to note that under Alabama law, a voter's registration must be tied to a person's "primary residence," not just any property owned or rented[5]. The homestead exemption claimed by Baird on the Moore Road property requires a sworn affidavit, which may be problematic given his current residence at 188 Pineywoods Lane[2].
Mayor Baird has offered to provide the requested utility bill to anyone who asks[2]. As of now, the matter remains under public discussion, but without definitive publicized findings[1][3]. The upcoming municipal elections are scheduled for Aug. 26[4].
[1] - Alexander City Outlook, "Alexander City Mayor's Residency Questioned," 2021 [2] - WSFA 12 News, "Alexander City Mayor Addresses Residency Concerns on Social Media," 2020 [3] - WSFA 12 News, "Anonymous Letter Raises Questions About Alexander City Mayor's Residency," 2021 [4] - The Anniston Star, "Alexander City Mayor Faces Two Opponents in Re-Election Bid," 2021 [5] - Alabama Secretary of State, "Election Laws and Procedures," 2021
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