2017 Birmingham municipal election: Difference between revisions
Line 21: | Line 21: | ||
* [[Lanny Jackson]], 41 votes (0.11%) | * [[Lanny Jackson]], 41 votes (0.11%) | ||
* [[Donald Lomax]], 29 votes (0.08%) | * [[Donald Lomax]], 29 votes (0.08%) | ||
===City Council=== | ===City Council=== | ||
* [[Birmingham City Council District 1|District 1]]: | * [[Birmingham City Council District 1|District 1]]: | ||
** [[Lashunda Scales]] (incumbent) | ** '''[[Lashunda Scales]]''' (incumbent), 2,845 votes (68.67%), winner | ||
** [[Sherman Collins]] | ** [[Sherman Collins]], 1,298 votes (31.33%) | ||
* [[Birmingham City Council District 2|District 2]]: | * [[Birmingham City Council District 2|District 2]]: | ||
** [[Kim Rafferty]] (incumbent) | ** [[Kim Rafferty]] (incumbent) |
Revision as of 09:01, 23 August 2017
The 2017 Birmingham municipal election is planned for August 22, 2017 to fill the positions of Mayor of Birmingham and all nine seats on the Birmingham City Council and Birmingham Board of Education.
This is to be the second concurrent election of Mayor and City Council after the election cycle for Mayor was changed by state law in 2010. The official qualification period was between June 23 and July 7. Runoff elections were held on October 4, 2017. Elected officials began their terms of office on October 24.
As of August 8, there were 120,241 registered voters in the city.
Candidates
Mayor
- Randall Woodfin, 15,656 votes (40.84%), runoff
- William Bell (incumbent), 14,011 votes (35.55%), runoff
- Chris Woods, 6,957 votes (18.15%)
- Frank Matthews, 531 votes (1.39%)
- Patricia Bell, 262 (0.68%)
- Randy Davis, 256 votes (0.67%)
- E. Philemon Hill, 205 votes (0.53%)
- Fernandez Sims, 170 votes (0.44%)
- Trudy Hunter, 165 votes (0.43%)
- Carl Jackson, 50 votes (0.13%)
- Lanny Jackson, 41 votes (0.11%)
- Donald Lomax, 29 votes (0.08%)
City Council
- District 1:
- Lashunda Scales (incumbent), 2,845 votes (68.67%), winner
- Sherman Collins, 1,298 votes (31.33%)
- District 2:
- District 3:
- Valerie Abbott (incumbent)
- Rowan Henderson
- Ryan Jones
- District 4:
- William Parker (incumbent)
- Mary Jean LaMay
- Cory Pettway
- Sergio Williams
- Robin Rains (dropped out)
- District 5:
- District 6:
- Sheila Tyson (incumbent)
- Keith Mims
- Keith Williams
- District 7:
- Jay Roberson (incumbent)
- Titus Battle
- Hosea Lewis
- Lonnie Malone
- Jeff Rowser
- District 8:
- Steven Hoyt (incumbent)
- Lynette Peters
- Gerri Robinson
- Adlai Trone
- District 9:
Board of Education
- District 1: (13 of 14 boxes)
- District 2:
- District 3:
- District 4: (35 of 36 boxes)
- Daagye Hendricks (incumbent)
- Amber Courtney
- Edward Maddox
- District 5: (35 of 36 boxes)
- District 6: (29 of 30 boxes)
- Cheri Gardner (incumbent)
- Lavon Beard
- Ervin Hill
- District 7: (29 of 30 boxes)
- Wardine Alexander (incumbent)
- Patricia McAdory
- Walt Wilson
- District 8: (23 of 24 boxes)
- District 9: (33 of 34 boxes)
- Sandra Brown (incumbent)
- Lawrence Jackson
Campaign
Woodfin announced his intention to challenge Bell for the Mayor's office on August 27, 2016 at the North Birmingham Recreation Center. Bell made his announcement at Katanya's Cafe in North Birmingham on February 3, 2017. Chris Woods announced his candidacy at Hopewell Baptist Church in North Birmingham on March 19. Patricia Bell announced her intention to run on April 14 at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. One prospective mayoral candidate, Carlos Chaverst Jr, was disqualified due to not meeting the 25 year age requirement.
In June the Grassroots Coalition of Birmingham publicized a "Black Agenda", laying out goals for addressing economic disparities, affordable housing, education, criminal justice, public health, and government accountability. The same group also organized the first public forum for mayoral candidates forum was held on April 18 at Avondale Brewing Company, which was attended by seven candidates. The coalition later endorsed Woodfin for Mayor.
A mayoral debate was hosted by I Believe in Birmingham at Woodlawn United Methodist Church on July 14. That event was attended by eight candidates; William Bell, E. Philemon Hill, Fernandez Sims, Randy Davis, Lanny Jackson, Patricia Bell, Randall Woodfin, Frank Matthews and Chris Woods. Joseph Baker and T. Marie King served as moderators. William Bell touted his economic development efforts, both downtown and outside of downtown, and claimed to, "have the ability and experience to keep the city moving." Other candidates pointed out issues still plaguing the city, such as violence, poverty and lack of educational achievement. More than one candidate recommended investing in business incubators throughout the city's neighborhoods. Randall Woodfin recommended refocusing public investments that are going to major projects into more basic needs, such as maintenance of public buildings. Several candidates criticized the changes to the Mayor-Council Act which increased the powers of the Mayor's office, with Woods accusing Bell of acting "like a king, a dictator." Several candidates pledged to increase financial support for schools. Matthews recommended changing the election of school board members to an at-large system. With regard to economic development priorities, Woodfin recommended workforce training at city recreation centers and aggressive recruitment of auto suppliers. Woods emphasized the need for industrial training in schools. Hill discussed efforts to attract film and television productions and completion of a domed stadium. Asked about police relations, Davis said he would have all officers reach out to at least 10 residents a day to "build rapport". Jackson repeatedly called for getting guns "off the street," while Patricia Bell said that "guns were made to protect the innocent." Matthews summarized the issues as all having to do with poverty. All candidates voiced support for government transparency and respectful interaction with citizens. Many also referenced the reported physical fight between William Bell and Marcus Lundy in 2015.
Another mayoral forum, hosted by the #StandAsOne Coalition, was held at 16th Street Baptist Church on July 27. Art Franklin moderated the discussion.
A telephone poll of 214 registered voters was conducted by WBRC 6 between July 28 and July 31. It indicated that 54% of voters favored Bell, with 17% supporting Woods and 14% preferring Woodfin.
A morning debate was held the Harbert Center with the three leading mayoral candidates: Bell, Woods and Woodfin. It was sponsored by the Birmingham Business Journal and WBHM-FM and broadcast live on FM 90.3. During that debate, Woodfin criticized the size of Bell's administrative staff and Woods accused Bell of "backroom deals". The mayor defended his record. Another televised debate, moderated by WBRC 6 reporter and anchor Jonathan Hardison, was held with five candidates in WBRC's studios on August 8. AARP Alabama sponsored that debate.
References
- Steere, Tim (August 22, 2016) "Assistant city attorney to run for mayor." Birmingham Business Journal
- Rebman, Stephanie (February 3, 2017) "Birmingham Mayor William Bell to seek re-election." Birmingham Business Journal
- Finchem, Reid (March 27, 2017) "Mayoral candidates speak at Birmingham-Southern on city growth." Weld for Birmingham
- Daniel, J. H. (May 24, 2017) "Marcus Lundy out of city council race, Carlos Chaverst not running for mayor" Bham Now
- Wiggins, Trenisha (June 1, 2017) "Grassroots group presents "Black Agenda" to mayoral candidates." The Birmingham Times
- Edgemon, Erin (July 7, 2017) "12 qualify to run for Birmingham mayor." The Birmingham News
- Edgemon, Erin (July 7, 2017) "5 Birmingham school board members not seeking reelection; Contri, Maddox, others qualify." The Birmingham News
- Stein, Kelsey (June 7, 2017) "Meet the candidates for Birmingham City Council" The Birmingham News
- Chambers, Jesse (July 15, 2017) "Mayor Bell and opponents offer competing visions at Woodlawn mayoral debate" Iron City Ink
- Owens, Cody (July 16, 2017) "Birmingham mayoral candidates criticize incumbent William Bell at spirited forum" The Birmingham Times
- Wright, Barnett (July 17, 2017) "Which Birmingham mayoral candidates benefitted most from Friday’s forum?" [sic] The Birmingham Times
- Hardison, Jonathan (August 1, 2017) "Poll indicates Bell in strong position to win re-election" WBRC.com
- Edgemon, Erin (August 10, 2017) "Heated Birmingham mayoral debate: Candidates say Bell wastes tax dollars; mayor denies." The Birmingham News
External links
- City of Birmingham Regular Municipal Elections schedule for Mayor, City Council and School Board at birminghamal.gov
- City Council Elections at ironcity.ink
- The Bham Debates website
- Municipal elections in Birmingham, Alabama (2017) on ballotpedia.org