1896 Birmingham municipal election

The 1896 Birmingham municipal election was held in December 1896 to elected a Mayor of Birmingham and a Birmingham Board of Aldermen made up of representatives from the city's 9 voting wards.

Registrars in each ward were responsible for qualifying voters for the election, under the guidance of Birmingham City Attorney Richard Evans. Registration was open from November 10 to November 20 and each qualified voter was given a ticket to present on election day. The registrars were listed as:

• 1st Ward: R. E. Lee at the Magic City Hotel (Morris Avenue and 14th Street)
• 2nd Ward: I. Epstein at Shepherd's Store at 19th Street and Park Avenue
• 3rd Ward: Prof. S. L. Robertson at Emond's Store at 19th Street and 10th Avenue
• 4th Ward: J. W. Savage at Butt's Store at 24th Street and Avenue A
• 5th Ward: J. L. Davis at the Jefferson County Courthouse on 3rd Avenue and 21st Street
• 6th Ward: W. M. Malone at Malone's Store at 26th Street and Avenue G
• 7th Ward: C. F. Douthit at Reynold's Lumber Yard at 20th Street and Avenue E
• 8th Ward: E. H. Rickman at Rickman's Store at 20th Street and Avenue C
• 9th Ward: D. C. Behrens at Behrens' Store at 12th Street and Avenue F

Frank Evans ran for re-election as the incumbent and as a representative of the Democratic Party. Various opposition parties gathered in advance of the election and drew up "tickets" to run on a unified platform, often nominated individuals who were not present and later had to be notified by a reporting committee that they would appear on the ballot. Christian Enslen was nominated for Mayor by the Citizens Reform Party. Alva Lowery was nominated by the Citizens Independent Party.

R. A. Mosely attended a meeting of Black voters for the sole purpose of assuring that the group did not endorse Frank Evans for re-election. He reported that the group made no endorsements at all.

Citizens Reform ticket

The Citizen's Reform Party was organized by a group of about 75 citizens who met at Erswell's Hall on November 9. W. H. Graves chaired the meeting, at which Benjamin Roden was initially elected as their candidate for mayor over Christian Enslen. When Roden declined to accept the next morning, former mayor James Van Hoose was reached by telephon. He also declined to be nominated unless Enslen had dropped out of consideration. He had not, so Enslen became the nominee.

• Mayor: Christian Enslen
• Board of Aldermen
  • 1st Ward: C. T. Hardeman and W. H. Doyle
  • 2nd Ward: W. H. Herrick and George Alexander
  • 3rd Ward: S. M. Hamby and Robert Kerr
  • 4th Ward: John Copeland and A. A. Clisby
  • 5th Ward: James Downey and William Snider
  • 6th Ward: T. W. Gathright and William Connors
  • 7th Ward: Edward Erswell and H. H. Sinnige
  • 8th Ward: Henry Gray or John McCardin and James Mackin
  • 9th Ward: Oliver Chalifoux and George Church

Citizens Independent ticket

At their party meeting at Engineers Hall on November 9 the Citizens Reform Party nominated Alva Lowery as their candidate for mayor.

• Mayor: Alva Lowery
• Board of Aldermen
  • 1st Ward: C. T. Hardeman and W. H. Doyle
  • 2nd Ward: J. Early Lee and W. H. Herrich
  • 3rd Ward: Robert Kerr and Joseph McKnight
  • 4th Ward: John Copeland and A. A. Clisby
  • 5th Ward: James Downey and William Snider
  • 6th Ward: T. W. Gathright and William Connors
  • 7th Ward: Edward Erswell and H. H. Sinnige
  • 8th Ward: Henry Gray or John McCardin and James Mackin
  • 9th Ward: Oliver Chalifoux and George Church

References

• "Three Men Will Run For Mayor of Birmingham." (November 10, 1896) The Birmingham News, p. 5