Jeff McClure, who earlier this year announced his intention to move to Andalusia and run for mayor, has failed meet the residency requirement within the state-mandated timeframe.

In January, McClure attempted to make his mayoral candidacy announcement at the First National Bank building and Andala parking lot prior to a morning downtown redevelopment announcement at the Andala building hosted by current Mayor Earl Johnson.

McClure was asked to leave the Andala parking lot and stood in front of the First National Bank building, in which he has an ownership interest.

At the time, McClure identified himself as being a Texas resident, and said he had plans to establish residency in Andalusia as soon as possible.

“I may not rest my head here right now, but my roots are here,” he said at the time.

The Star-News contacted McClure on Wednesday to see if he was still running and if he had established residency.

“No, not yet,” he said to establishing residency. “I’m still talking with some of the folks here. I think I have a pretty compelling story to tell.”

State law says that the mayor shall be elected by the whole of the electors of the city and shall have been a resident of the city for at least 90 days prior to his or her election.

Today, there are only 74 days until the election.

McClure asked when qualifying begins and was told July 5.

He said he thought it was unfair that Mayor Earl Johnson made qualifying only a little more than a month from the election.

However, the mayor doesn’t set the dates for city elections. The dates are mandated by the Code of Alabama, which says that regular municipal elections are held the fourth Tuesday in August.

The last day to qualify is July 19 by 5 p.m., with the municipal clerk in the appropriate city or town.

In addition to the residency requirement, candidates must be 18 and be registered to vote.

Municipal elections are Aug. 23, when elections are planned in Andalusia, Babbie, Carolina, Florala, Gantt, Heath, Horn Hill, Libertyville, Lockart, Onycha, Opp, Red Level, River Falls, and Sanford.