1907 Birmingham municipal election
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The 1907 mayoral election for the city of Birmingham was held on February 18, 1907 with incumbent George Ward defeating challenger Frank O'Brien by 1,659 votes to 1,533 (a difference of only 126 votes, or 4%). The vote was technically a Democratic primary, but with no real opposition party, it was the deciding election.
Although O'Brien promised to improve the undermanned Birmingham Police Department, Ward narrowly won reelection - in part by identifying O'Brien as a puppet of liquor and gambling interests.
Results
Mayor of Birmingham
| George Ward | Frank O'Brien | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Ward | 59 | 152 |
| 2nd Ward | 126 | 212 |
| 3rd Ward | 193 | 143 |
| 4th Ward | 185 | 96 |
| 5th Ward | 257 | 218 |
| 6th Ward | 109 | 124 |
| 7th Ward | 209 | 183 |
| 8th Ward | 256 | 207 |
| 9th Ward | 245 | 198 |
| Totals | 1,639 | 1,533 |
Chief of Police
- William Wier 1,149 votes (winner)
- George Bodeker 1,078 votes
- C. W. Austin (incumbent) 816 votes
- J. B. Morson 130 votes
Birmingham Board of Aldermen
- 1st Ward: R. D. Burnett 101 votes, Wright, 41 votes, Burke 39 votes, Parsons 22 votes, Horan (dropped out) 1 vote, O'Hara (dropped out) 0 votes
- 2nd Ward: John O'Neill (incumbent, unopposed) 269 votes
- 3rd Ward: R. H. Eggleston 199 votes, A. A. Gambill 121 votes, Oden 16 votes
- 4th Ward: Walter Moore (incumbent) 198 votes, Parker 78 votes
- 5th Ward: B. H. Cooper (incumbent, unopposed) 257 votes
- 6th Ward: John Forney (incumbent)
- 7th Ward: C. C. Heidt (incumbent)
- 8th Ward: Dan Hogan
- 9th Ward: C. H. Estes
Other city departments
- Birmingham Police Commission (four of seven places open): Hal Copeland 1,585 votes, Thomas Parker, 1,311 votes, W. R. McGavock 1,289 votes, F. B. Yielding 1,201 votes (winners), Burger 1,102 votes, Metcalfe 1,084 votes, Tarrant 1,078 votes, Ullman 903 votes, Wurtzburger 597 votes
- Birmingham Street Commissioner: John McCartin (incumbent), Waldrop
- Birmingham City Attorney: Edward D. Smith
- Birmingham Treasurer: George Eustis (incumbent), Garretson, Shahar
- Auditor: W. B. Copeland
- Birmingham City Engineer: Julian Kendrick
- License Inspector: J. J. Boggan
- Building Inspector: John Lind (incumbent), W. O. Matthews
- Plumbing Inspector: Charles Eckerle (incumbent), Conrad, Gayle
- Electrical Inspector: W. H. Abernathy (incumbent), Hunt
References
- Birmingham News (February 19, 1907), cited in Joseph M. Farley (November 1963) "The Greater Birmingham Struggle of 1907-1910". Journal of the Birmingham Historical Society. Vol. 4, pp. 1-15
- "Mayor Ward renominated in yesterday's primary by majority of 106." (February 19, 1907) Birmingham News
- Harris, Carl V. (1977) Political Power in Birmingham, 1871-1921. Twentieth-Century America Series. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press. ISBN 087049211X