2017 Birmingham municipal election

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. Council members began their terms of office on October 24 and the new mayor was sworn in on November 28.

There were 143,732 registered voters in the city. In the August election 38,483 ballots were cast, representing a turnout of 26.95 percent. In the runoff, 42,363 votes were cast, for a turnout of 29.47 percent. In the general election, the most active polling locations were Avondale Elementary School, Bethel Baptist Church and the Brownsville Community Center, where about 40% of voters took part in the election. The lowest turnouts were at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Birmingham Fire Station No. 32 where fewer than 10% of voters cast ballots.

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. None of the council incumbents won their respective run-offs.

In the school board election, five of the nine races were for open seats. In the other four, incumbents Daagye Hendricks, Cheri Gardner and Sandra Brown won re-election, while Wardine Alexander lost to a challenger.

Mayor

Randall Woodfin

• Randall Woodfin, 15,668 votes (40.84%), 24,922 votes in runoff (58.95%), winner
• William Bell (incumbent), 14,025 votes (36.55%), 17,357 votes in runoff (41.05%)
• Chris Woods, 6,961 votes (18.14%)
• Frank Matthews, 532 votes (1.39%)
• Patricia Bell, 264 (0.69%)
• 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 (68.65%), winner Sherman Collins, 1,299 votes (31.35%) District 2: Hunter Williams, 1,123 votes (29.31%), 3,098 votes in runoff (71.43%), winner Kim Rafferty (incumbent), 665 votes (17.36%), 1,239 votes in runoff (28.57%) Deanna Reed, 560 votes (14.62%) Lawrence Conaway, 447 votes (11.70%) Tyrone Williams, 361 votes (9.42%) Kimberly Jeanty, 311 votes (8.12%) Jordan Thompson, 188 votes (4.91%) Stephen L. Murphy, 176 votes (4.59%) District 3: Valerie Abbott (incumbent), 2,548 votes (65.08%), winner Ryan Jones, 1,256 votes (32.08%) Rowan Henderson, 111 votes (2.84%) District 4: William Parker (incumbent), 2,822 votes (74.28%), winner Mary Jean LaMay, 427 votes (11.24%) Cory Pettway, 366 votes (9.63%) Sergio Williams, 184 votes (4.85%) Robin Rains (dropped out) District 5: Darrell O'Quinn, 1,104 votes (25.63%), 2,431 votes in runoff (51.68%), winner Johnathan Austin (incumbent), 1,358 votes (31.52%), 2,273 votes in runoff (48.32%) Chris Davis, 770 votes (17.87%) Dorothea Crosby, 483 votes (11.21%) Jeremy Schatz, 293 votes (6.80%) Robert L. Walker, 162 votes (3.76%) Erica Robbins, 138 votes (3.20%) Charles Ball (no result)

District 6: Sheila Tyson (incumbent), 3,140 votes (79.49%), winner Keith Mims, 600 votes (15.19%) Keith Williams, 210 or (5.32%) District 7: Jay Roberson (incumbent), 2,670 votes (58.06%), winner Lonnie Malone, 962 votes (20.92%) Jeff Rowser, 489 votes (10.63%) Hosea Lewis, 291 votes (6.33%) Titus Battle, 187 votes (4.07%) District 8: Steven Hoyt (incumbent), 2,319 votes (57.76%), winner Gerri Robinson, 743 votes (18.51%) Adlai Trone, 539 votes (13.42%) Lynette Peters, 414 votes (10.31%) District 9: John Hilliard, 1,071 votes (21.74%), 2,713 votes in runoff (50.57%), winner Roderick Royal, 1,522 votes (30.90%), 2,652 votes in runoff (49.43%) Reginald Swanson, 637 votes (12.93%) Wendell Major, 478 votes (9.70%) Angene Coleman, 412 votes (8.36%) James Williams, 312 votes (6.33%) Eric Hall, 273 votes (5.54%) David Russell, 221 votes (4.49%)

Board of Education

District 1: Doug Ragland, 1,027 votes (25.45%), 2,319 votes in runoff (51.73%), winner Cedric Small, 1,498 votes (37.12%), 2,164 votes in runoff (48.27%) Jerry Tate, 816 votes (20.22%) Keith Rice, 418 votes (10.36%) Bennie Holmes, 277 votes (6.86%) District 2: Terri Michal, 1,719 votes (50.15%), winner Brandon McCray, 1,709 votes (49.85%) District 3: Mary Boehm, 2,763 votes (70.97%), winner Larry Contri, 1,130 votes (29.03%) District 4: Daagye Hendricks (incumbent), 1,309 votes (34.28%), 2,185 votes in runoff (51.22%), winner Edward Maddox, 1,791 votes (46.91%), 2,081 votes in runoff (48.78%) Amber Courtney, 718 votes (18.81%) District 5: Mickey Millsap, 1,236 votes (30.16%), 2,571 votes in runoff (56.57%), winner David McKinney, 631 votes (15.40%), 1,974 votes in runoff (43.43%) Martha McDowell, 567 votes (13.84%) Aisha Muhammad, 476 votes (11.62%) Angela Scoggins-Watson, 376 votes (9.18%) Andrea Mitchell, 333 votes (8.13%) Eloise Crenshaw, 330 votes (8.05%) Buford Burks, 149 votes (3.64%)

District 6: Cheri Gardner (incumbent), 2,947 votes (79.22%), winner Ervin Hill, 773 votes (20.78%) LaVon Beard (no result) District 7: Patricia McAdory, 1,837 votes (40.21%), 3,055 votes in runoff (60.01%), winner Walt Wilson, 1,532 votes (33.53%), 2,036 votes in runoff (39.99%) Wardine Alexander (incumbent), 1,200 votes (26.26%) District 8: Sonja Smith, 1,253 votes (31.46%), 2,837 votes in runoff (63.67%), winner Patricia Bozeman Henderson, 1,178 votes (29.58%), 1,619 votes in runoff (36.33%) Tyrone Silman, 1,093 votes (27.45%) Antwon Womack, 459 votes (11.52%) District 9: Sandra Brown (incumbent), 3,136 votes (68.10%), winner Lawrence Jackson, 1,469 votes (31.90%)

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. Woodfin, who had been a student government president at his alma mater, Morehouse College, also enjoyed support from a network of fellow alumni, many of whom responded to a request for donations in the amount of $18.71, representing Birmingham's founding date.

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

• 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
• Edgemon, Erin (August 22, 2017) "Birmingham 2017 municipal election: Woodfin, Bell headed to runoff." The Birmingham News
• Wright, Barnett (August 24, 2017) "Voters sent clear message to Mayor, Council President" The Birmingham Times
• Stewart, Sherrel (August 24, 2017) "The Breakdown: How Woodfin and Bell Fared Around the City" WBHM.org
• Edgemon, Erin (August 27, 2017) "How Randall Woodfin won place in runoff with incumbent Birmingham mayor." The Birmingham News
• Edgemon, Erin (August 29, 2017) "Birmingham municipal election: Final numbers are in, winners declared." The Birmingham News
• Prickett, Sam (September 5, 2017) "Bell Encourages Staff to Campaign for Him; City Hall Meeting Raises Ethical Concerns" BirminghamWatch
• Prickett, Sam (September 10, 2017) "Contributions to Bell and Woodfin Highlight Campaign Differences" BirminghamWatch
• Prickett, Sam (September 12, 2017) "Woodfin: Bell’s Fundraising Allegations Are ‘False and Misleading’" BirminghamWatch
• Johnson, Roy S. (September 22, 2017) "William Bell vs. Randall Woodfin: And the debate winner was ...." The Birmingham News
• Edgemon, Erin (October 1, 2017) "Birmingham election preview: Mayoral, city council, BOE runoffs." The Birmingham News
• Patterson, Nick (October 5, 2017) "Randall woodfin’s winning mayoral campaign benefited from strategy and a desire for change." The Birmingham Times
• Johnson, Roy S. (October 5, 2017) "Randall Woodfin vows to create 'best team this city's ever seen'." The Birmingham News
• Edgemon, Erin (October 8, 2017) "How Morehouse College alumni powered Randall Woodfin's campaign for Birmingham mayor." The Birmingham News

External links

• City of Birmingham Regular Municipal Elections schedule for Mayor, City Council and School Board at birminghamal.gov
• Mayoral Election Official Report at Birminghamal.gov
• General Municipal Runoff Official Report at Birminghamal.gov
• City Council Elections at ironcity.ink
• The Bham Debates website
• Municipal elections in Birmingham, Alabama (2017) on ballotpedia.org