Former Birmingham Mayor William Bell was appointed this week as interim chair of the Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee, effective February 27, 2026. Randy Kelley, chair of the Alabama Democratic Party, appointed Bell and named Angela Webb-Weinberg as interim vice chair.
Kelley said he made the appointments after a challenge was filed with the State Democratic Executive Committee following a special election last August to fill vacancies for chair and vice chair. Kelley appointed a committee to investigate and determine what action, if any, should be taken.
Attorney Ben Harris of Mobile chaired the hearing committee, which also included Joe L. Reed, vice chair for Minority Affairs of Montgomery, and Rebecca Marion of Tallapoosa County. The committee heard the charges, reviewed the evidence and concluded that the Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee had more members than allowed under State Democratic Executive Committee bylaws.
During the hearing, committee members also raised concerns about whether some people who participated in and voted in the August special election were eligible. The committee invalidated the election, vacated the positions and asked the Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee to provide information, including membership lists, to determine whether another special election could be held. The committee did not receive the information in a timely or complete manner, Kelley said.
When the committee received a membership list, it showed the Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee exceeded the number of members allowed under the bylaws and that some people whose names did not appear on the list voted in the August special election.
The committee recommended Bell for chair and Webb-Weinberg for vice chair. They will serve until August, when the bylaws require the Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee to elect new officers.
Grover Dunn served temporarily after the committee vacated the positions to complete qualifying. Wayne Rogers then served as interim chair through candidate certification on February 26.
