Voters in the city of Birmingham go to the polls Tuesday to elect their mayor, city council members, and city school board representatives. Incumbent Mayor Randall Woodfin is seeking a second term in office, but he faces a number of challengers.
“I’m incredibly proud of this team and the steps they’ve taken and work they’ve been putting in since day one of this campaign,” said Mayor Randall Woodfin. “I’m especially grateful to my friends Mayor Lumumba and Mayor Perkins for believing in our campaign and my Vision for Birmingham’s future — so much so that they came down to Birmingham to help spread the word about the importance of voting. Together, we will continue this progress, not just for Birmingham but for cities across our country.”
Mayor Chokwe Lumumba of Jackson, Mississippi and Mayor Adrian Perkins of Shreveport, Louisiana, both endorsed Woodfin and were involved in Get Out The Vote activities on Monday with Woodfin.
“Four years ago, we built a movement brick-by-brick. A movement of folks from all walks of life who stood together to demand better leadership for our city,” Woodfin said. “You gave me an opportunity to serve this city, and every day I have tried to move with a sense of urgency to solve every issue on behalf of our residents. Today, I ask that you stick with me, I ask that you believe in what we are doing, and I ask that you get out to the polls, so we can continue to change our community together.”
“My record shows that I’ve been an advocate for the African American communities in Birmingham,” said former Birmingham Mayor William Bell. “I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again. Let’s Build Back Better on August 24th.”
Bell’s campaign recently announced the endorsement of the Alabama Democratic Conference. If elected, this would be Bell’s fifth decade in Birmingham city government, winning his first election to city council in 1979.
“I believe that Birmingham has a lot of potential,” said Jefferson County Lashunda Scales. “All it takes is for you and I to work together to make Birmingham on of the most livable cities with unlimited possibilities. I have a vision for Birmingham that requires all hands on deck so that we can be the premier City of the South.”
Birmingham has never elected a woman to be its mayor, Scales added. “Lets work together to make history.”
“My vision for Birmingham is to unite people from all walks of life including Independents, Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Business Leaders and Nonprofit groups to support public education, create transparent government, reverse the troubling rise in crime, and provide a working environment where people from all levels can get ahead. If we come together as one people united together with a common purpose, Birmingham can become the All-American city that she is destined to be,” said Chris Woods. “Together we will identify and tackle community-wide challenges and achieve uncommon results. Together we will make Birmingham a better place to live, learn, and earn.”
Woods is a successful construction contractor.
In addition to Woodfin, Bell, Scales and Woods, Ervin Hill II, Napoleon Gonzalez, Cerissa Brown and Darryl Williams are also running for mayor of Birmingham.
Key issues in the race have been rising crime, economic development, education, revitalizing the city’s many neighborhoods, and the city’s vision for moving forward.
Birmingham was recently supplanted as Alabama’s largest city by Huntsville, but Birmingham remains the largest city in the state’s largest metropolitan area.
The polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
All voters must vote at their designated polling place and all voters must bring a valid photo ID with them to the polls to participate in any Alabama election.
