Birmingham City Council: Difference between revisions

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Technology improvements contracted from Granicus of San Francisco, California and installed in early [[2008]] allow a video record of council meetings to be indexed and published on the internet, along with electronically-recorded votes.
Technology improvements contracted from Granicus of San Francisco, California and installed in early [[2008]] allow a video record of council meetings to be indexed and published on the internet, along with electronically-recorded votes.


==Compensation==
As recently as October [[2014]] Council compensation was $15,000 per year in salary plus a $10,000 annual allowance for expenses. That month the Council approved a proposal submitted by president [[Johnathan Austin]] to increase their expense allowance to $25,000 per year and to increase council salaries by $10,000 beginning in [[2017]], doubling members' overall compensation. The plan was approved by the committee of the whole then, and passed by a 7-1 vote on [[August 7]], [[2015]]. The council also advertised proposed state legislation that would expand total compensation for council members to $75,000 ($50,000 salary plus a $25,000 expense allowance).
As recently as October [[2014]] Council compensation was $15,000 per year in salary plus a $10,000 annual allowance for expenses. That month the Council approved a proposal submitted by president [[Johnathan Austin]] to increase their expense allowance to $25,000 per year and to increase council salaries by $10,000 beginning in [[2017]], doubling members' overall compensation. The plan was approved by the committee of the whole then, and passed by a 7-1 vote on [[August 7]], [[2015]]. The council also advertised proposed state legislation that would expand total compensation for council members to $75,000 ($50,000 salary plus a $25,000 expense allowance).


==[[1963 Birmingham City Council election|1963]]==
Sate legislator [[Jabo Waggoner Jr]] sponsored a bill, crafted by Council member [[Kim Rafferty]] that superseded the Council's resolution, setting base compensation for members at the median household income for the city, as calculated by the [[Alabama Personnel Department]] every four years. The bill was signed into law by [[Governor of Alabama|Governor]] [[Kay Ivey]] on [[May 12]], [[2017]]. When the [[2017-2021 Birmingham City Council|2017 Council]] took office in October, their pay was therefore set at $37,000 per year.
 
==Members==
===[[1963 Birmingham City Council election|1963]]===
[[Image:1963 Birmingham City Council.jpg|center|thumb|575px|Members of the Birmingham City Council in 1963: 1st row, (L-R) E. C. Overton, Nina Miglionico, M. Edwin Wiggins, George Seibels. 2nd row, (L-R) Alan Drennen, Tom Woods, Don Hawkins, John Golden. Not pictured: John Bryan]]
[[Image:1963 Birmingham City Council.jpg|center|thumb|575px|Members of the Birmingham City Council in 1963: 1st row, (L-R) E. C. Overton, Nina Miglionico, M. Edwin Wiggins, George Seibels. 2nd row, (L-R) Alan Drennen, Tom Woods, Don Hawkins, John Golden. Not pictured: John Bryan]]
[[John Bryan]], [[Don Hawkins]], [[George Seibels]], and [[M. Edwin Wiggins]] were elected to four year terms. [[Alan Drennen]], [[John Golden]], [[Nina Miglionico]], [[E. C. Overton]] and [[Tom Woods]] were elected to two-year terms. Wiggins was elected President of the Council. A review of roll-call votes indicated that Wiggins, Bryan, Miglionico, Seibels and Drennen represented a five-member moderate majority on race issues, while Overton, Golden, Woods and Hawkins opposed efforts to integrate public life. (Thornton-2002)
[[John Bryan]], [[Don Hawkins]], [[George Seibels]], and [[M. Edwin Wiggins]] were elected to four year terms. [[Alan Drennen]], [[John Golden]], [[Nina Miglionico]], [[E. C. Overton]] and [[Tom Woods]] were elected to two-year terms. Wiggins was elected President of the Council. A review of roll-call votes indicated that Wiggins, Bryan, Miglionico, Seibels and Drennen represented a five-member moderate majority on race issues, while Overton, Golden, Woods and Hawkins opposed efforts to integrate public life. (Thornton-2002)
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* [[Tom Woods]] (1st term, 2 years)
* [[Tom Woods]] (1st term, 2 years)


==[[1965 Birmingham City Council election|1965]]==
===[[1965 Birmingham City Council election|1965]]===
Drennen, Miglionico and Overton were re-elected to four-year terms joined by [[Liston Corcoran]]. [[R. W. Douglas]] won the open two-year term. Wiggins position as council president was unchallenged.
Drennen, Miglionico and Overton were re-elected to four-year terms joined by [[Liston Corcoran]]. [[R. W. Douglas]] won the open two-year term. Wiggins position as council president was unchallenged.


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* [[R. W. Douglas]] (1st term, 2 years)
* [[R. W. Douglas]] (1st term, 2 years)


==[[1967 Birmingham mayoral election|1967]]==
===[[1967 Birmingham mayoral election|1967]]===
Bryan, Hawkins, Wiggins and Woods were all re-elected to four-year terms. R. W. Douglas was also re-elected, but died in office. [[Arthur Shores]] was appointed in June [[1968]] to fill his unexpired term, becoming the first African-American to serve in the Birmingham City Council. Wiggins remained City Council president.
Bryan, Hawkins, Wiggins and Woods were all re-elected to four-year terms. R. W. Douglas was also re-elected, but died in office. [[Arthur Shores]] was appointed in June [[1968]] to fill his unexpired term, becoming the first African-American to serve in the Birmingham City Council. Wiggins remained City Council president.


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* [[Arthur Shores]] 1968–1969 (1st term)
* [[Arthur Shores]] 1968–1969 (1st term)


==[[1969 Birmingham City Council election|1969]]==
===[[1969 Birmingham City Council election|1969]]===
[[Image:1969 City Council.jpg|right|thumb|275px|The newly-elected and re-elected members of the Council are sworn in in November, 1969. Nina Miglionico and Arthur Shores on front row, Liston Corcoran, E. C. Overton and Russell Yarbrough in back.]]
[[Image:1969 City Council.jpg|right|thumb|275px|The newly-elected and re-elected members of the Council are sworn in in November, 1969. Nina Miglionico and Arthur Shores on front row, Liston Corcoran, E. C. Overton and Russell Yarbrough in back.]]
Corcoran, Miglionico, Overton and Shores were all re-elected to four year terms. [[Russell Yarbrough]] won the two-year Council seat. Wiggins remained City Council president.
Corcoran, Miglionico, Overton and Shores were all re-elected to four year terms. [[Russell Yarbrough]] won the two-year Council seat. Wiggins remained City Council president.
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* [[Russell Yarbrough]] (1st term, 2 years)
* [[Russell Yarbrough]] (1st term, 2 years)


==[[1971 Birmingham mayoral election|1971]]==
===[[1971 Birmingham mayoral election|1971]]===
Hawkins and Yarbrough were re-elected to four-year terms. They were joined by [[Richard Arrington, Jr]], [[David Vann]], and [[Angi Grooms Proctor]]. Proctor took the two-year seat. Don Hawkins took over as City Council President.
Hawkins and Yarbrough were re-elected to four-year terms. They were joined by [[Richard Arrington, Jr]], [[David Vann]], and [[Angi Grooms Proctor]]. Proctor took the two-year seat. Don Hawkins took over as City Council President.


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* [[David Vann]] (1st term)
* [[David Vann]] (1st term)


==[[1973 Birmingham City Council election|1973]]==
===[[1973 Birmingham City Council election|1973]]===
Miglionico, Overton, Proctor and Shores were all re-elected to four-year terms ([[U. W. Clemon]] came in fourth). Liston Corcoran took the two-year seat. He died in office  and [[David Herring]] was elected in February, [[1974]] to fill his unexpired term. Hawkins remained Council President.
Miglionico, Overton, Proctor and Shores were all re-elected to four-year terms ([[U. W. Clemon]] came in fourth). Liston Corcoran took the two-year seat. He died in office  and [[David Herring]] was elected in February, [[1974]] to fill his unexpired term. Hawkins remained Council President.


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* [[David Herring]] 1974–1975 (1st term)
* [[David Herring]] 1974–1975 (1st term)


==[[1975 Birmingham mayoral election|1975]]==
===[[1975 Birmingham mayoral election|1975]]===
Arrington, Hawkins, Herring and Yarbrough were each re-elected to four-year terms. [[Bessie Estell]] joined the council in the two-year seat. Hawkins remained Council President.
Arrington, Hawkins, Herring and Yarbrough were each re-elected to four-year terms. [[Bessie Estell]] joined the council in the two-year seat. Hawkins remained Council President.


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* [[Bessie Estell]] (1st term, 2 years)
* [[Bessie Estell]] (1st term, 2 years)


==[[1977 Birmingham City Council election|1977]]==
===[[1977 Birmingham City Council election|1977]]===
Estell, Miglionico and Overton were re-elected to four year terms, joined by [[John Katopodis]]. [[Larry Langford]] won the two-year seat. Council President Hawkins died in office. [[Pete Clifford]] was elected in November [[1978]] to fill his unexpired term and Nina Miglionico succeeded him as President, the first woman to hold that office.
Estell, Miglionico and Overton were re-elected to four year terms, joined by [[John Katopodis]]. [[Larry Langford]] won the two-year seat. Council President Hawkins died in office. [[Pete Clifford]] was elected in November [[1978]] to fill his unexpired term and Nina Miglionico succeeded him as President, the first woman to hold that office.


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* [[Pete Clifford]] 1978–1979 (1st term)
* [[Pete Clifford]] 1978–1979 (1st term)


==[[1979 Birmingham mayoral election|1979]]==
===[[1979 Birmingham mayoral election|1979]]===
Cllifford, Herring and Yarbrough were each re-elected to four-year terms, joined by [[Jeff Germany]]. [[William Bell]] won the two-year seat. Miglionico remained Council President.
Cllifford, Herring and Yarbrough were each re-elected to four-year terms, joined by [[Jeff Germany]]. [[William Bell]] won the two-year seat. Miglionico remained Council President.


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* [[William Bell]] (1st term, 2 years)
* [[William Bell]] (1st term, 2 years)


==[[1981 Birmingham City Council election|1981]]==
===[[1981 Birmingham City Council election|1981]]===
[[File:1981 Bham City Council.jpg|center|thumb|575px|Members of the Birmingham City Council in 1981 (L-R): William Bell, Jeff Germany, David Herring, Russell Yarbrough, John Katopodis, Nina Miglionico, Pete Clifford, Bettye Fine Collins, and Bill Myers]]
[[File:1981 Bham City Council.jpg|center|thumb|575px|Members of the Birmingham City Council in 1981 (L-R): William Bell, Jeff Germany, David Herring, Russell Yarbrough, John Katopodis, Nina Miglionico, Pete Clifford, Bettye Fine Collins, and Bill Myers]]
Katopodis and Miglionico were re-elected to four-year terms, joined by [[Bettye Fine Collins]] and [[Bill Myers]]. [[William Bell]] was re-elected to a second two-year term. John Katopodis succeeded Miglionico as Council President.
Katopodis and Miglionico were re-elected to four-year terms, joined by [[Bettye Fine Collins]] and [[Bill Myers]]. [[William Bell]] was re-elected to a second two-year term. John Katopodis succeeded Miglionico as Council President.
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* [[Bill Myers]] (1st term)
* [[Bill Myers]] (1st term)


==[[1983 Birmingham mayoral election|1983]]==
===[[1983 Birmingham mayoral election|1983]]===
[[File:1983 Bham City Council.jpg|center|thumb|575px|Members of the Birmingham City Council in 1983: Back (L-R): Eddie Blankenship, Jeff Germany, John Katopodis, Russell Yarbrough, William Bell, Bill Myers. Front (L-R): Bettye Fine Collins, David Herring, Nina Miglionico]]
[[File:1983 Bham City Council.jpg|center|thumb|575px|Members of the Birmingham City Council in 1983: Back (L-R): Eddie Blankenship, Jeff Germany, John Katopodis, Russell Yarbrough, William Bell, Bill Myers. Front (L-R): Bettye Fine Collins, David Herring, Nina Miglionico]]
Bell, Germany, Herring and Yarbrough were each re-elected to four-year terms. [[Eddie Blankenship]] won the two-year seat. David Herring succeeded Katopodis as Council President.
Bell, Germany, Herring and Yarbrough were each re-elected to four-year terms. [[Eddie Blankenship]] won the two-year seat. David Herring succeeded Katopodis as Council President.
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* [[Bill Myers]] (1st term)
* [[Bill Myers]] (1st term)


==[[1985 Birmingham City Council election|1985]]==
===[[1985 Birmingham City Council election|1985]]===
<!--http://johnkatopodis.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/council-1985.jpg-->Blankenship and Myers were re-elected to four-year terms, joined by [[Roosevelt Bell]] and [[Linda Coleman]]. Collins won the two-year seat. William Bell succeeded Herring as Council President and Jeff Germany was President Pro Tem.
<!--http://johnkatopodis.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/council-1985.jpg-->Blankenship and Myers were re-elected to four-year terms, joined by [[Roosevelt Bell]] and [[Linda Coleman]]. Collins won the two-year seat. William Bell succeeded Herring as Council President and Jeff Germany was President Pro Tem.


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* [[Bill Myers]] (2nd term)
* [[Bill Myers]] (2nd term)


==[[1987 Birmingham mayoral election|1987]]==
===[[1987 Birmingham mayoral election|1987]]===
Germany, Herring and William Bell were re-elected to four-year terms, joined by [[Mike Graffeo]]. [[Antris Hinton]] won the two-year seat. Bell remained Council President.
Germany, Herring and William Bell were re-elected to four-year terms, joined by [[Mike Graffeo]]. [[Antris Hinton]] won the two-year seat. Bell remained Council President.


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* [[Bill Myers]] (3rd term)
* [[Bill Myers]] (3rd term)


==[[1989 Birmingham City Council election|1989]]==
===[[1989 Birmingham City Council election|1989]]===
In the first district-based election in the wake of Russell Yarbrough's lawsuit, seven of the nine council members won re-election.  Graffeo lost his re-election bid.  William Bell, Linda Coleman, and Jeff Germany all lived in City Council District 9 at the time of the court order to move to district-based voting.  Bell moved to District 5 and won re-election while Coleman and Germany competed for District 9, with Germany losing.
In the first district-based election in the wake of Russell Yarbrough's lawsuit, seven of the nine council members won re-election.  Graffeo lost his re-election bid.  William Bell, Linda Coleman, and Jeff Germany all lived in City Council District 9 at the time of the court order to move to district-based voting.  Bell moved to District 5 and won re-election while Coleman and Germany competed for District 9, with Germany losing.


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* District 9: [[Linda Coleman]] (3rd term)
* District 9: [[Linda Coleman]] (3rd term)


==[[1993 Birmingham City Council election|1993]]==
===[[1993 Birmingham City Council election|1993]]===
* District 1: [[Byron Davis]] (1st term)
* District 1: [[Byron Davis]] (1st term)
* District 2: [[Pat Sewell]] (2nd term)
* District 2: [[Pat Sewell]] (2nd term)
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* District 9: [[Linda Coleman]] (4th term)
* District 9: [[Linda Coleman]] (4th term)


==[[1997 Birmingham City Council election|1997]]==
===[[1997 Birmingham City Council election|1997]]===
* District 1: [[Don MacDermott]] (1st term)
* District 1: [[Don MacDermott]] (1st term)
* District 2: [[Bill Johnson]] (1st term)  
* District 2: [[Bill Johnson]] (1st term)  
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Five members of the council, Leroy Bandy; Sandra Little; William Bell, Aldrich Gunn, and Pat Alexander constituted a majority coalition that typically supported Mayor Arrington.
Five members of the council, Leroy Bandy; Sandra Little; William Bell, Aldrich Gunn, and Pat Alexander constituted a majority coalition that typically supported Mayor Arrington.


==[[2001 Birmingham municipal election|2001]]==
===[[2001 Birmingham municipal election|2001]]===
* District 1: [[Joel Montgomery]] (1st term)
* District 1: [[Joel Montgomery]] (1st term)
* District 2: [[Carol Duncan|Carol Reynolds]] (1st term)
* District 2: [[Carol Duncan|Carol Reynolds]] (1st term)
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* District 9: [[Roderick Royal]] (1st term)
* District 9: [[Roderick Royal]] (1st term)


==[[2005 Birmingham City Council election|2005]]==
===[[2005 Birmingham City Council election|2005]]===
* [[Council District 1]]: [[Joel Montgomery]]
* [[Council District 1]]: [[Joel Montgomery]]
* [[Council District 2]]: [[Carol Duncan]] (known as Carol Reynolds until March 2007)
* [[Council District 2]]: [[Carol Duncan]] (known as Carol Reynolds until March 2007)
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* [[Council District 9]]: [[Roderick Royal]]
* [[Council District 9]]: [[Roderick Royal]]


==[[2009 Birmingham City Council election|2009]]==
===[[2009 Birmingham City Council election|2009]]===
* [[Birmingham City Council District 1|District 1]]: [[Lashunda Scales]]
* [[Birmingham City Council District 1|District 1]]: [[Lashunda Scales]]
* [[Birmingham City Council District 2|District 2]]: [[Kim Rafferty]]
* [[Birmingham City Council District 2|District 2]]: [[Kim Rafferty]]
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* [[Birmingham City Council District 9|District 9]]: [[Roderick Royal]] (President)
* [[Birmingham City Council District 9|District 9]]: [[Roderick Royal]] (President)


==[[2013 Birmingham municipal election|2013]]==
===[[2013 Birmingham municipal election|2013]]===
{{Main|2013-2017 Birmingham City Council}}
{{Main|2013-2017 Birmingham City Council}}
* [[Birmingham City Council District 1|District 1]]: [[Lashunda Scales]]
* [[Birmingham City Council District 1|District 1]]: [[Lashunda Scales]]
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* [[Birmingham City Council District 9|District 9]]: [[Marcus Lundy]]
* [[Birmingham City Council District 9|District 9]]: [[Marcus Lundy]]


==[[2017 Birmingham municipal election|2017]]==
===[[2017 Birmingham municipal election|2017]]===
{{Main|2017-2021 Birmingham City Council}}
{{Main|2017-2021 Birmingham City Council}}
* [[Birmingham City Council District 1|District 1]]: [[Lashunda Scales]] (third term)
* [[Birmingham City Council District 1|District 1]]: [[Lashunda Scales]] (third term)
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* Archibald, John (August 7, 2015) "Birmingham City Council pulls big check scam, triples its own salary." {{BN}}
* Archibald, John (August 7, 2015) "Birmingham City Council pulls big check scam, triples its own salary." {{BN}}
* Archibald, John (December 11, 2015) "This city council may be the worst ever." {{BN}}
* Archibald, John (December 11, 2015) "This city council may be the worst ever." {{BN}}
* Edgemon, Erin (May 12, 2017) "Law blocks Birmingham City Council's 233 percent pay increase." {{BN}}
* Johnson, Roy S. (October 16, 2017) "Birmingham city council hears news on pay raises, good news for city?" {{BN}}


==External link==
==External link==

Revision as of 11:24, 16 October 2017

The Birmingham City Council is the legislative body for the City of Birmingham. It was formed in April 1963 by the passage of the Mayor-Council Act, which replaced the former Birmingham City Commission. After they are sworn in, council members vote on a council president who assigns members to ten Birmingham City Council Committees. The council president also acts as mayor in the event the current mayor resigns or is forced from office.

The Council was originally composed of nine at-large members. In the first election the four candidates with the most votes won four-year terms, with the rest serving for two years before the next election. Each two years following five seats would come up for election with the top four vote-getters winning four-year terms and the fifth place finisher serving for two years before the next election.

As a result of a lawsuit brought by Russell Yarbrough (Yarbrough et al v. City of Birmingham), the method of electing the City Council was changed by court order to district representation in 1989. The purpose of the suit was to preserve minority (white) political representation in an increasingly African-American city.

Currently, the Birmingham City Council consists of nine members representing nine individual districts and facing elections every four years. Until 2013, City Council elections alternated with mayoral elections, meaning that sitting council members could run for mayor while keeping their council seats.

The council meets in the Council Chambers on the 3rd floor of Birmingham City Hall, facing Linn Park. A slogan above the door quotes William Shakespeare's Coriolanus, "The people are the city." (Act III, Scene i).

Technology improvements contracted from Granicus of San Francisco, California and installed in early 2008 allow a video record of council meetings to be indexed and published on the internet, along with electronically-recorded votes.

Compensation

As recently as October 2014 Council compensation was $15,000 per year in salary plus a $10,000 annual allowance for expenses. That month the Council approved a proposal submitted by president Johnathan Austin to increase their expense allowance to $25,000 per year and to increase council salaries by $10,000 beginning in 2017, doubling members' overall compensation. The plan was approved by the committee of the whole then, and passed by a 7-1 vote on August 7, 2015. The council also advertised proposed state legislation that would expand total compensation for council members to $75,000 ($50,000 salary plus a $25,000 expense allowance).

Sate legislator Jabo Waggoner Jr sponsored a bill, crafted by Council member Kim Rafferty that superseded the Council's resolution, setting base compensation for members at the median household income for the city, as calculated by the Alabama Personnel Department every four years. The bill was signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey on May 12, 2017. When the 2017 Council took office in October, their pay was therefore set at $37,000 per year.

Members

1963

Members of the Birmingham City Council in 1963: 1st row, (L-R) E. C. Overton, Nina Miglionico, M. Edwin Wiggins, George Seibels. 2nd row, (L-R) Alan Drennen, Tom Woods, Don Hawkins, John Golden. Not pictured: John Bryan

John Bryan, Don Hawkins, George Seibels, and M. Edwin Wiggins were elected to four year terms. Alan Drennen, John Golden, Nina Miglionico, E. C. Overton and Tom Woods were elected to two-year terms. Wiggins was elected President of the Council. A review of roll-call votes indicated that Wiggins, Bryan, Miglionico, Seibels and Drennen represented a five-member moderate majority on race issues, while Overton, Golden, Woods and Hawkins opposed efforts to integrate public life. (Thornton-2002)

Council:

1965

Drennen, Miglionico and Overton were re-elected to four-year terms joined by Liston Corcoran. R. W. Douglas won the open two-year term. Wiggins position as council president was unchallenged.

Council:

1967

Bryan, Hawkins, Wiggins and Woods were all re-elected to four-year terms. R. W. Douglas was also re-elected, but died in office. Arthur Shores was appointed in June 1968 to fill his unexpired term, becoming the first African-American to serve in the Birmingham City Council. Wiggins remained City Council president.

Council:

1969

The newly-elected and re-elected members of the Council are sworn in in November, 1969. Nina Miglionico and Arthur Shores on front row, Liston Corcoran, E. C. Overton and Russell Yarbrough in back.

Corcoran, Miglionico, Overton and Shores were all re-elected to four year terms. Russell Yarbrough won the two-year Council seat. Wiggins remained City Council president.

Council:

1971

Hawkins and Yarbrough were re-elected to four-year terms. They were joined by Richard Arrington, Jr, David Vann, and Angi Grooms Proctor. Proctor took the two-year seat. Don Hawkins took over as City Council President.

Council:

1973

Miglionico, Overton, Proctor and Shores were all re-elected to four-year terms (U. W. Clemon came in fourth). Liston Corcoran took the two-year seat. He died in office and David Herring was elected in February, 1974 to fill his unexpired term. Hawkins remained Council President.

Council:

1975

Arrington, Hawkins, Herring and Yarbrough were each re-elected to four-year terms. Bessie Estell joined the council in the two-year seat. Hawkins remained Council President.

Council:

1977

Estell, Miglionico and Overton were re-elected to four year terms, joined by John Katopodis. Larry Langford won the two-year seat. Council President Hawkins died in office. Pete Clifford was elected in November 1978 to fill his unexpired term and Nina Miglionico succeeded him as President, the first woman to hold that office.

Council:

1979

Cllifford, Herring and Yarbrough were each re-elected to four-year terms, joined by Jeff Germany. William Bell won the two-year seat. Miglionico remained Council President.

Council:

1981

Members of the Birmingham City Council in 1981 (L-R): William Bell, Jeff Germany, David Herring, Russell Yarbrough, John Katopodis, Nina Miglionico, Pete Clifford, Bettye Fine Collins, and Bill Myers

Katopodis and Miglionico were re-elected to four-year terms, joined by Bettye Fine Collins and Bill Myers. William Bell was re-elected to a second two-year term. John Katopodis succeeded Miglionico as Council President.

Council:

1983

Members of the Birmingham City Council in 1983: Back (L-R): Eddie Blankenship, Jeff Germany, John Katopodis, Russell Yarbrough, William Bell, Bill Myers. Front (L-R): Bettye Fine Collins, David Herring, Nina Miglionico

Bell, Germany, Herring and Yarbrough were each re-elected to four-year terms. Eddie Blankenship won the two-year seat. David Herring succeeded Katopodis as Council President.

Council:

1985

Blankenship and Myers were re-elected to four-year terms, joined by Roosevelt Bell and Linda Coleman. Collins won the two-year seat. William Bell succeeded Herring as Council President and Jeff Germany was President Pro Tem.

Council:

1987

Germany, Herring and William Bell were re-elected to four-year terms, joined by Mike Graffeo. Antris Hinton won the two-year seat. Bell remained Council President.

Council:

1989

In the first district-based election in the wake of Russell Yarbrough's lawsuit, seven of the nine council members won re-election. Graffeo lost his re-election bid. William Bell, Linda Coleman, and Jeff Germany all lived in City Council District 9 at the time of the court order to move to district-based voting. Bell moved to District 5 and won re-election while Coleman and Germany competed for District 9, with Germany losing.

1993

1997

Five members of the council, Leroy Bandy; Sandra Little; William Bell, Aldrich Gunn, and Pat Alexander constituted a majority coalition that typically supported Mayor Arrington.

2001

2005

2009

2013

2017


Birmingham City Council
District 1 Clinton Woods District 4 J. T. Moore District 7 Wardine Alexander
District 2 Hunter Williams District 5 Darrell O'Quinn District 8 Carol Clarke
District 3 Valerie Abbott District 6 Crystal Smitherman District 9 LaTonya Tate
Preceded by:
Birmingham City Commission
Legislative Body for the City of Birmingham
1963 - present
Succeeded by:
n/a

References

  • Franklin, Jimmie Lewis (1989) "Appendix: Birmingham Mayors and Council Members, 1963-Present," p. 333-36 in Back to Birmingham: Richard Arrington, Jr., and His Times. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press. ISBN 0817304355
  • Haeberle, Steven H. (1997) "Exploring the Effects of Single-Member Districts on an Urban Political System." Urban Affairs Review. Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 287-97
  • Norton, Bertha Bendall (1970) Birmingham's First Magic Century: Were You There?. Birmingham: self-published/Lakeshore Press
  • Thornton, J. Mills III (2002) Dividing Lines: Municipal Politics and the Struggle for Civil Rights in Montgomery, Birmingham, and Selma. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press. ISBN 9780817311704
  • Bryant, Joseph D. (February 18, 2008) "Birmingham City Council to start using electronic voting system." Birmingham News
  • Carlisle, Don. (April 29, 2010). "The worst City Council of all time." The Birmingham Times - accessed May 13, 2010.
  • Bryant, Joseph D. (October 7, 2014) "Birmingham council endorses giving themselves $15,000 expense increase plus more pay for next council." The Birmingham News
  • Archibald, John (August 7, 2015) "Birmingham City Council pulls big check scam, triples its own salary." The Birmingham News
  • Archibald, John (December 11, 2015) "This city council may be the worst ever." The Birmingham News
  • Edgemon, Erin (May 12, 2017) "Law blocks Birmingham City Council's 233 percent pay increase." The Birmingham News
  • Johnson, Roy S. (October 16, 2017) "Birmingham city council hears news on pay raises, good news for city?" The Birmingham News

External link