2017 Birmingham municipal election: Difference between revisions

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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 [[2017-2021 Birmingham City Council|Birmingham City Council]] and [[Birmingham Board of Education]].
The '''2017 Birmingham municipal election''' was a [[:Category:Birmingham municipal elections|municipal election]] held on  [[August 22]], [[2017]] to fill the positions of [[Mayor of Birmingham]] and all nine seats on the [[2017-2021 Birmingham City Council|Birmingham City Council]] and [[Birmingham Board of Education]].


This was 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]].
It was the second concurrent ballot for 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 3]], [[2017]]. Elected officials began their terms of office on [[October 24]].


There were 142,794 registered voters in the city. 38,483 ballots were cast, representing a turnout of 26.95 percent. <!--Only 8.5% of voters turned out for the runoff election. Results of the general election were certified by the City Clerk on [[September 3]].-->
There were 142,794 registered voters in the city. 38,483 ballots were cast, representing a turnout of 26.95 percent. In the runoff, 42,263 votes were cast, for a turnout of 29.60 percent.


In the Mayoral race, challenger [[Randall Woodfin]] was the leading vote-getter, advancing to a runoff with incumbent [[William Bell]]. Eight of the nine City Council members stood for re-election. Two of them advanced to runoffs against challenger, while six were returned to their seats without a runoff. Furthermore, [[Roderick Royal]], the leading vote-getter in the District 9 race with no incumbent, was a former council president.
In the Mayoral race, challenger [[Randall Woodfin]] was the leading vote-getter, advancing to a runoff with incumbent [[William Bell]], which he then won by a margin of 59 to 41. Eight of the nine City Council members stood for re-election. Two of them advanced to runoffs against challengers, while six were returned to their seats without a runoff.


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** [[Sherman Collins]], 1,299 votes (31.35%)
** [[Sherman Collins]], 1,299 votes (31.35%)
* [[Birmingham City Council District 2|District 2]]:
* [[Birmingham City Council District 2|District 2]]:
** [[Hunter Williams]], 1,123 votes (29.31%), runoff
** '''[[Hunter Williams]]''', 1,123 votes (29.31%), 3,097 votes in runoff (71.43%), winner
** [[Kim Rafferty]] (incumbent), 665 (17.36%), runoff
** [[Kim Rafferty]] (incumbent), 665 votes (17.36%), 1,239 votes in runoff (28.57%)
** [[Deanna Reed]], 560 votes (14.62%)
** [[Deanna Reed]], 560 votes (14.62%)
** [[Lawrence Conaway]], 447 votes (11.70%)
** [[Lawrence Conaway]], 447 votes (11.70%)
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** [[Robin Rains]] (dropped out)
** [[Robin Rains]] (dropped out)
* [[Birmingham City Council District 5|District 5]]:
* [[Birmingham City Council District 5|District 5]]:
** [[Johnathan Austin]] (incumbent), 1,358 votes (31.52%), runoff
** '''[[Darrell O'Quinn]]''', 1,104 votes (25.63%), 2,430 votes in runoff (51.69%), winner
** [[Darrell O'Quinn]], 1,104 votes (25.63%), runoff
** [[Johnathan Austin]] (incumbent), 1,358 votes (31.52%), 2,271 votes in runoff (48.31%)
** [[Chris Davis (politician)|Chris Davis]], 770 votes (17.87%)
** [[Chris Davis (politician)|Chris Davis]], 770 votes (17.87%)
** [[Dorothea Crosby]], 483 votes (11.21%)
** [[Dorothea Crosby]], 483 votes (11.21%)
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** [[Lynette Peters]], 414 votes (10.31%)
** [[Lynette Peters]], 414 votes (10.31%)
* [[Birmingham City Council District 9|District 9]]:
* [[Birmingham City Council District 9|District 9]]:
** [[Roderick Royal]], 1,522 votes (30.90%), runoff
** '''[[John Hilliard]]''', 1,071 votes (21.74%), 2,712 votes in runoff (50.58%), winner
** [[John Hilliard]], 1,071 votes (21.74%), runoff
** [[Roderick Royal]], 1,522 votes (30.90%), 2,650 votes in runoff (49.42%)
** [[Reginald Swanson]], 637 votes (12.93%)
** [[Reginald Swanson]], 637 votes (12.93%)
** [[Wendell Major]], 478 votes (9.70%)
** [[Wendell Major]], 478 votes (9.70%)
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** [[Larry Contri]], 1,130 votes (29.03%)
** [[Larry Contri]], 1,130 votes (29.03%)
* [[Birmingham City Council District 4|District 4]]:
* [[Birmingham City Council District 4|District 4]]:
** [[Edward Maddox]], 1,791 votes (46.91%), runoff
** '''[[Daagye Hendricks]]''' (incumbent), 1,309 votes (34.28%), 2,185 votes in runoff (51.23%), winner
** [[Daagye Hendricks]] (incumbent), 1,309 votes (34.28%), runoff
** [[Edward Maddox]], 1,791 votes (46.91%), 2,080 votes in runoff (48.77%)
** [[Amber Courtney]], 718 votes (18.81%)
** [[Amber Courtney]], 718 votes (18.81%)
* [[Birmingham City Council District 5|District 5]]:
* [[Birmingham City Council District 5|District 5]]:
** [[Mickey Millsap]], 1,236 votes (30.16%), runoff
** '''[[Mickey Millsap]]''', 1,236 votes (30.16%), 2,570 votes in runoff (56.58%), winner
** [[David McKinney]], 631 votes (15.40%), runoff
** [[David McKinney]], 631 votes (15.40%), 1,972 votes in runoff (43.42%)
** [[Martha McDowell]], 567 votes (13.84%)
** [[Martha McDowell]], 567 votes (13.84%)
** [[Aisha Muhammad]], 476 votes (11.62%)
** [[Aisha Muhammad]], 476 votes (11.62%)
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** [[LaVon Beard]] (no result)
** [[LaVon Beard]] (no result)
* [[Birmingham City Council District 7|District 7]]:
* [[Birmingham City Council District 7|District 7]]:
** [[Patricia McAdory]], 1,837 votes (40.21%), runoff
** '''[[Patricia McAdory]]''', 1,837 votes (40.21%), 3,055 votes in runoff (60.01%), winner
** [[Walt Wilson]], 1,532 votes (33.53%), runoff
** [[Walt Wilson]], 1,532 votes (33.53%), 2,036 votes in runoff (39.99%)
** [[Wardine Alexander]] (incumbent), 1,200 votes (26.26%)
** [[Wardine Alexander]] (incumbent), 1,200 votes (26.26%)
* [[Birmingham City Council District 8|District 8]]:
* [[Birmingham City Council District 8|District 8]]:
** [[Sonja Smith]], 1,253 votes (31.46%), runoff
** '''[[Sonja Smith]]''', 1,253 votes (31.46%), 2,837 votes in runoff (63.67%), winner
** [[Patricia Bozeman Henderson]], 1,178 votes (29.58%), runoff
** [[Patricia Bozeman Henderson]], 1,178 votes (29.58%), 1,619 votes in runoff (36.33%)
** [[Tyrone Silman]], 1,093 votes (27.45%)
** [[Tyrone Silman]], 1,093 votes (27.45%)
** [[Antwon Womack]], 459 votes (11.52%)
** [[Antwon Womack]], 459 votes (11.52%)

Revision as of 10:26, 4 October 2017

The 2017 Birmingham municipal election was a municipal election held on 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.

It was the second concurrent ballot for 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 3, 2017. Elected officials began their terms of office on October 24.

There were 142,794 registered voters in the city. 38,483 ballots were cast, representing a turnout of 26.95 percent. In the runoff, 42,263 votes were cast, for a turnout of 29.60 percent.

In the Mayoral race, challenger Randall Woodfin was the leading vote-getter, advancing to a runoff with incumbent William Bell, which he then won by a margin of 59 to 41. Eight of the nine City Council members stood for re-election. Two of them advanced to runoffs against challengers, while six were returned to their seats without a runoff.


Mayor

City Council

Board of Education

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.

During the mayoral runoff campaign, accusations against both Bell and Woodfin were shared widely on social media.

Bell discussed the election during a meeting with city workers on August 28, warning them that many could lose their positions if he was not re-elected and complaining about Woodfin's out-of-state donors. Though he cautioned employees not to campaign on city time, Bell urged them to promote the administration's projects on social media and to participate on campaign events outside work hours. Concerns were raised about whether the meeting violated state ethics and campaign laws.

Also, during the runoff, Bell picked up endorsements from former mayors Richard Arrington and Bernard Kincaid and by U.S. Representative Terri Sewell. Meanwhile, Woodfin was endorsed by third-place candidate Chris Woods. Bell and Woodfin met in a televised debate for WVTM-TV on September 21.

References

External links

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