An issue that has dogged Alexander City Mayor Woody Baird on social media and among critics since his initial election in 2020 finally found its way into the public record at last week’s Alexander City Council Meeting.
Where does the mayor live?
Near the end of the two-hour meeting, a council member asked that an anonymous letter—allegedly sent from “city hall”—be read.
“Over the last several weeks, several citizens have expressed their concern about whether the mayor currently reside(s) within the city limits of Alexander City, as required by Alabama law,” the letter began.
It went on to lay out the basic concerns that citizens allegedly have: that the mayor owns property within the city limits but that his primary residence—where he lays his head most nights and keeps most of his possessions—is a home located in the county, outside of the city limits.
The letter asked that Baird provide a current utility bill from Alex City with his name on it to prove that he is “experiencing the financial impact of recent sewer rate increases.”
Following the reading of the letter during the council meeting, Baird responded: “I have two residences in Alex City—both have Alexander City, Alabama, 35010, addresses. I have one of them outside the city limits and one of them inside the city limits.”
Baird said he would be happy to provide the requested utility bill to anyone who asked.
This issue is not a new one for Baird or the citizens who continue to question him. It began in 2020, and there has to date been no resolution. Back then, Baird addressed questions on social media with a Facebook response.
“When I first considered running for Mayor of Alex City, I knew I would have to establish a residence within the city limits,” Baird wrote in June 2020. “I co-own two houses besides my business in the city limits and I have been renting 188 Pineywoods Lane in Alex City for over 15 years. So I moved my voting registration to the Pineywoods address.”
Baird went on to say that he has lived, worked, attended school and supported his church in Alex City over the years.
The problem, however, is that under Alabama law, a voter’s registration must be tied to a person’s “primary residence,” and not simply any property he owns or rents.
On tax filings with Tallapoosa County, Baird claims a homestead exemption on a property at 395 Moore Road—a property that lies outside of city limits. A homestead exemption of the type claimed by Baird on the Moore Road property can only be claimed, under Alabama law, on a person’s primary residence and requires a sworn affidavit.
That would appear to be a problem for Baird, given that Alabama Code Title 11 reads: “The mayor shall be elected by the whole of the electors of the city, shall be a qualified elector of the city, and shall have been a resident of the city at least 90 days prior to the time of filing his statement of candidacy, and shall reside within the limits of the city during his term of office. If the mayor shall remove from within the limits of the city, his office shall become vacant.”
Baird has served as the mayor of Alexander City since 2020. He has drawn two opponents—Audrey Colvin and Mike Densmore—in his current bid for re-election. Municipal elections are Aug. 26.
