Let's get this straight.

• You have to live in the state of Texas for at least 5 years to be eligible to run for State Senator.
• Brian Birdwell bought land in Granbury in November 2005, which is NOT YET 5 YEARS (that will be November 2010). BUT HE DID NOT LIVE HERE THEN AND HE DID NOT VOTE HERE.
• Brian Birdwell voted in the Virginia 2006 election
• Brian Birdwell says on his website that he moved to Texas in 2007

Doing the math. 2007 Plus 5 is 20012. WHAT YEAR IS IT AGAIN???? Oh, that's right 2010. Suppose we said 2006, which is when, in November, Birdwell was still living in Virginia. That would make his year of eligibility 2011.  EVEN IF we said it was five years from when he bought the Hood county land, that would STILL be November 2010.

From the Hood County Appraisal District site.

The Texas Constitution says.

Sec. 6.  QUALIFICATIONS OF SENATORS. No person shall be a Senator, unless he be a citizen of the United States, and, at the time of his election a qualified voter of this State, and shall have been a resident of this State five years next preceding his election, and the last year thereof a resident of the district for which he shall be chosen, and shall have attained the age of twenty-six years.

(Amended Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 6: See Appendix, Note 1.)

Here's a bit of hilarity from the Waco Trib

The senator and lawyers hired by his campaign have argued it is enough that Birdwell intended to move back to Texas, where he grew up.

Oh. Okay, then. You grew up in Oklahoma. You intend to move back to Oklahoma. You're not eligible to run because you haven't lived there for 5 years. But It's Enough That You Plan To Move Back. Right? bwahahahah.

They note that he incorporated his ministry to the state in 2003 and purchased a lot in Granbury in 2005.

So, every single incorporation in the state of Texas is done by people who live here. Right?

And his lot wasn't just purchased in 2005, it was purchased in November 2005. IT HAS NOT BEEN FIVE YEARS YET SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE.

Now, I don't know if Birdwell voted twice in the same election, once in Texas and once in Virgina. He definitely voted in Virginia. And apparently the sign in sheets aren't around anymore. But I continue to believe that looking at whether he voted twice, which might have be an innocent mistake, detracts from the fact he is NOT ELIGIBLE TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

The Waco Trib also has a great editorial

Judging from comments in the Texas Tribune, fervent Birdwell defenders would have us simply brush aside questions about residency and voter fraud and consider the will of the people to the exclusion of law and ethical consideration.

If so, why bother having laws about residency? And why bother with laws to prevent voter fraud? If we are to look the other way when it’s politically convenient for us to do so, what does this say ultimately about our own integrity as citizens?

Not to mention our math skills.