Lee Loder

Lee Wendell Loder, Jr (born c. 1970) is an attorney and owner of the Loder Law Firm, a Christian minister, and former president of the Birmingham City Council.

Loder is the son of Gate City neighborhood president Lee Loder, Sr. He earned a bachelor of science in political science from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia and a juris doctorate from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1995. He opened his own law firm in 1996.

Loder represented District 8 in the Birmingham City Council from 1999 to 2005. He was appointed to fill the seat left vacant by the election of Bernard Kincaid as Mayor of Birmingham. Loder was a candidate in that election, finishing 6th with just under 4% of the vote.

After the 2001 Birmingham City Council election in which he was joined by eight new Council members, Loder was elected to serve as President. He did not run in the 2005 Birmingham City Council election and was succeeded by Steven Hoyt. As a councilor, Loder promoted economic development projects and introduced a ban on smoking in restaurants and nightclubs.

In 2002, Loder was implicated in allegations of cruelty to his pet dog, Stokely, and arrested. The emaciated condition of the chained dog was reported by a carpenter working in the neighborhood. The charges were dismissed after Birmingham Municipal Court judge David Barnes was unsatisfied with questions about inconsistencies in the investigation and arrest. Barnes was later censured by the Alabama State Court of the Judiciary for not removing himself from the case. He had been a fraternity bother of Loder's and his position on the municipal bench was subject to the City Council. Loder forged an agreement with the Greater Birmingham Humane Society to work with them to promote better treatment for animals.

After leaving the City Council, Loder began leading "Thankful Thursday" praise and outreach services with free lunches at the Carver Theater.

Preceded by: Bernard Kincaid	Birmingham City Council District 8 Representative 1999–2005	Succeeded by: Steven Hoyt
Preceded by: William Bell	Birmingham City Council President 2001–2005	Succeeded by: Carole Smitherman

References

• Reynolds, Ed (October 24, 2002) "City Council President Arrested In Animal Cruelty Case." Black & White
• Geiss, Chuck (December 5, 2002) "Naked Birmingham". Black & White
• Reynolds, Ed (February 12, 2003) "No More Mr. Nice Guy." Black & White