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'''Randall Lee Woodfin''' (born [[May 29]], [[1981]] in [[Birmingham]]) is the [[Mayor of Birmingham|Mayor]] of the [[City of Birmingham]]. He is a former assistant city attorney and former president of the [[Birmingham Board of Education]].
'''Randall Lee Woodfin''' (born [[May 29]], [[1981]] in [[Birmingham]]) is the [[Mayor of Birmingham|Mayor]] of the [[City of Birmingham]]. He is a former assistant city attorney and former president of the [[Birmingham Board of Education]].


Woodfin, the son of [[Cynthia Woodfin-Kellum]], grew up in [[North Birmingham neighborhood|North Birmingham]] and graduated from [[Shades Valley High School]]. While in school he worked as a bagger at [[Food Smart]].
==Early Life and Education==


Woodfin has a bachelor's degree in political science from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia and served as SGA president during his senior year in [[2002]]-[[2003]]. He returned to Birmingham as an assistant to [[Birmingham City Council]] president [[Lee Loder]], and later as a staff member for the [[Birmingham Division of Youth Services]] and at the [[Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity]], where he participated in implementing programs through the [[Birmingham Office of Peace & Policy|Birmingham Weed & Seed Task Force]].
Woodfin, the son of [[Cynthia Woodfin-Kellum]], grew up in [[North Birmingham neighborhood|North Birmingham]]. He attended [[North Birmingham Elementary School]], [[Putnam Middle School]], and [[Shades Valley High School]]. While in school he worked as a bagger at [[Food Smart]]. Woodfin grew up with three siblings; his older brother Ralph was killed by gun violence in 2011. Woodfin's nephew Ralph Woodfin III was killed in August 2017.


Woodfin completed his juris doctorate at [[Samford University]]'s [[Cumberland School of Law]] and clerked for one of the firms representing the Board of Education. Since graduating he has been active in local and regional political campaigns.
Woodfin has a bachelor's degree in political science from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia and served as SGA president during his senior year in [[2002]]-[[2003]]. Woodfin went on to earn his juris doctorate at [[Samford University]]'s [[Cumberland School of Law]].


Woodfin was appointed an assistant city attorney in [[2009]]. He ran unsuccessfully for the [[Birmingham City Council District 3|District 3]] seat on the Birmingham Board of Education in that year's [[2009 Birmingham City Council election|municipal election]]. In the [[2013 Birmingham municipal election]], Woodfin ran for the vacant [[Birmingham City Council District 5|District 5]] seat on the Board. He took over the role of president of the new board that emerged from state takeover and was responsible for addressing the needed improvements outlined by the AdvancED accrediting agency.
==Early Career==
 
After college he returned to Birmingham as an assistant to [[Birmingham City Council]] president [[Lee Loder]], and later as a staff member for the [[Birmingham Division of Youth Services]] and at the [[Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity]], where he participated in implementing programs through the [[Birmingham Office of Peace & Policy|Birmingham Weed & Seed Task Force]].
 
After law school he went on to clerk for one of the firms representing the Board of Education. Woodfin was then appointed an assistant city attorney for the City of Birmingham in [[2009]].
 
He ran unsuccessfully for the [[Birmingham City Council District 3|District 3]] seat on the Birmingham Board of Education in that year's [[2009 Birmingham City Council election|municipal election]]. In the [[2013 Birmingham municipal election]], Woodfin ran for the vacant [[Birmingham City Council District 5|District 5]] seat on the Board. He took over the role of president of the new board that emerged from state takeover and was responsible for addressing the needed improvements outlined by the AdvancED accrediting agency.


During the [[2016 general election|2016]] presidential election campaign, Woodfin served as statewide organizer for Hillary Clinton's campaign and briefly chaired the Young Professionals Advisory Council for the Birmingham office of the [[United Negro College Fund]].
During the [[2016 general election|2016]] presidential election campaign, Woodfin served as statewide organizer for Hillary Clinton's campaign and briefly chaired the Young Professionals Advisory Council for the Birmingham office of the [[United Negro College Fund]].
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In August [[2016]] Woodfin announced his candidacy for the [[2017 Birmingham municipal election|2017 Birmingham mayoral election]]. [[Ed Fields]] managed the campaign while Pine Street Strategies of Washington D.C. conducted a national fundraising drive which targeted Morehouse graduates and pushed positive stories on Woodfin to the national media. He was endorsed locally by the [[Grassroots Coalition of Birmingham|Grassroots Coalition]], the [[Birmingham Professional Firefighters Association]], and the [[Birmingham Local Chapter of National Letter Carriers Association]]; and nationally by Our Revolution and the Political Revolution PAC. He garnered the largest number of votes on election day, advancing to a runoff with incumbent [[William Bell]].
In August [[2016]] Woodfin announced his candidacy for the [[2017 Birmingham municipal election|2017 Birmingham mayoral election]]. [[Ed Fields]] managed the campaign while Pine Street Strategies of Washington D.C. conducted a national fundraising drive which targeted Morehouse graduates and pushed positive stories on Woodfin to the national media. He was endorsed locally by the [[Grassroots Coalition of Birmingham|Grassroots Coalition]], the [[Birmingham Professional Firefighters Association]], and the [[Birmingham Local Chapter of National Letter Carriers Association]]; and nationally by Our Revolution and the Political Revolution PAC. He garnered the largest number of votes on election day, advancing to a runoff with incumbent [[William Bell]].


On [[October 3]], [[2017]], Randall Woodfin won the run-off election for Mayor of Birmingham with 59% of the votes defeating incumbent Mayor [[William Bell]]. Woodfin named Fields, [[Charles Krulak]] and [[Bobbie Knight]] to his transition team. On [[November 14]] he announced that [[Cedric Sparks]] would serve as his chief of staff, with [[Kevin Moore]] as chief of operations, [[Kevin Datcher]] as chief of governmental affairs (to liaise with the City Council), [[Ed Fields]] as chief strategist and senior adviser, and [[Nicole King]] as city attorney. He was sworn into office on [[November 28]], [[2017]].
On [[October 3]], [[2017]], Randall Woodfin won the run-off election for Mayor of Birmingham with 59% of the votes defeating incumbent Mayor [[William Bell]].
 
==Mayorship==
 
Woodfin named Fields, [[Charles Krulak]] and [[Bobbie Knight]] to his transition team. On [[November 14]] he announced that [[Cedric Sparks]] would serve as his chief of staff, with [[Kevin Moore]] as chief of operations, [[Kevin Datcher]] as chief of governmental affairs (to liaise with the City Council), [[Ed Fields]] as chief strategist and senior adviser, and [[Nicole King]] as city attorney. He was sworn into office on [[November 28]], [[2017]].


On [[March 15]], [[2018]] Woodfin hosted a public event at the [[Alabama Theatre]] to publicize "[[The Woodfin Way]]", the combined reports of his transition teams' analysis of city operations during his first 100 days in office. The report suggested several major changes to priorities and organization of City Hall. The mayor held a public event, called "The Big Picture," on [[March 21]], [[2019]] at the [[Alabama School of Fine Arts]]' [[Dorothy Jemison Day Theater]] to update progress on his agenda. Woodfin delivered a mid-term update at [[Haven]] on [[December 3]], 2019. He touted the growth of the [[Birmingham Neighborhood Revitalization Fund]], which has made possible the paving of 16 miles of streets, the repair of 27,516 potholes, and the demolition of more than 700 dilapidated structures. He also spoke about the city's coordinated efforts to revitalized downtown [[Ensley]]. Other programs mentioned included the [[Birmingham Peace Campaign]], the restructuring of the [[311]] service, the [[Pardons for Progress]] program, and the [[Birmingham Promise Initiative]]. Going forward, Woodfin announced future efforts to restructure the city's [[Birmingham recycling program|recycling program]], to promote environmental justice, to reduce homelessness, and to support women- and minority-owned businesses.
On [[March 15]], [[2018]] Woodfin hosted a public event at the [[Alabama Theatre]] to publicize "[[The Woodfin Way]]", the combined reports of his transition teams' analysis of city operations during his first 100 days in office. The report suggested several major changes to priorities and organization of City Hall. The mayor held a public event, called "The Big Picture," on [[March 21]], [[2019]] at the [[Alabama School of Fine Arts]]' [[Dorothy Jemison Day Theater]] to update progress on his agenda. Woodfin delivered a mid-term update at [[Haven]] on [[December 3]], 2019. He touted the growth of the [[Birmingham Neighborhood Revitalization Fund]], which has made possible the paving of 16 miles of streets, the repair of 27,516 potholes, and the demolition of more than 700 dilapidated structures. He also spoke about the city's coordinated efforts to revitalized downtown [[Ensley]]. Other programs mentioned included the [[Birmingham Peace Campaign]], the restructuring of the [[311]] service, the [[Pardons for Progress]] program, and the [[Birmingham Promise Initiative]]. Going forward, Woodfin announced future efforts to restructure the city's [[Birmingham recycling program|recycling program]], to promote environmental justice, to reduce homelessness, and to support women- and minority-owned businesses.
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During the [[2020 George Floyd protests|protests]] that followed the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, a group began vandalizing the [[Confederate Soldiers & Sailors Monument]] at [[Linn Park]]. Woodfin arrived at the scene and asked them to give him 24 hours to "finish" what they started. The next evening, during a citywide emergency curfew, crews did remove the upper part of the monument, in defiance of the [[Alabama Memorial Preservation Act]]. Woodfin's quick action was applauded by many, but also brought criticism and death threats from others. One significant telephoned threat led to a lockdown at [[Birmingham City Hall]] and nearby buildings. The lockdown was lifted after [[Warrior]] resident [[Brian Vest]] was arrested at home and charged with threatening the lives of Woodfin and others.
During the [[2020 George Floyd protests|protests]] that followed the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, a group began vandalizing the [[Confederate Soldiers & Sailors Monument]] at [[Linn Park]]. Woodfin arrived at the scene and asked them to give him 24 hours to "finish" what they started. The next evening, during a citywide emergency curfew, crews did remove the upper part of the monument, in defiance of the [[Alabama Memorial Preservation Act]]. Woodfin's quick action was applauded by many, but also brought criticism and death threats from others. One significant telephoned threat led to a lockdown at [[Birmingham City Hall]] and nearby buildings. The lockdown was lifted after [[Warrior]] resident [[Brian Vest]] was arrested at home and charged with threatening the lives of Woodfin and others.


Woodfin announced his [[2021 Birmingham municipal elections|re-election campaign]] for [[Mayor of Birmingham]] on [[August 24]] [[2020]]. In January [[2021]] he was admitted to [[Princeton Baptist Medical Center]] for two nights to treat pneumonia related to [[2020 Coronavirus pandemic|COVID-19]].
Woodfin announced his [[2021 Birmingham municipal elections|re-election campaign]] for [[Mayor of Birmingham]] on [[August 24]] [[2020]]. In January 2021 [[Our Revolution - Birmingham]], with support of Our Revolution National, released a statement repealing their previous endorsement of Randall Woodfin for Mayor of Birmingham, ahead of the 2021 municipal elections in Birmingham, Alabama. Two week earlier the Birmingham chapter of the [[Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) - Birmingham Chapter]] released videos condemning Randall Woodfin's policies, which included a critic of his FY2021 budget that furloughed of hundreds of city employees while increasing the budget for the police department, and acknowledging that they will not be supporting his re-election campaign.
 
In January [[2021]] he was admitted to [[Princeton Baptist Medical Center]] for two nights to treat pneumonia related to [[2020 Coronavirus pandemic|COVID-19]].


On [[April 20]], [[2021]] Woodfin issued blanket pardons for all those convicted of misdemeanor marijuana possession in [[Birmingham Municipal Court]]. The action was taken after it was reported that his "[[Pardons for Progress]]" program had only reached a small fraction of those it was intended to help.  
On [[April 20]], [[2021]] Woodfin issued blanket pardons for all those convicted of misdemeanor marijuana possession in [[Birmingham Municipal Court]]. The action was taken after it was reported that his "[[Pardons for Progress]]" program had only reached a small fraction of those it was intended to help.  
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* Beahm, Anna (June 3, 2020) "Woodfin tells NBC’s ‘Today’ he’s received death threats after removing Confederate monument." {{BN}}
* Beahm, Anna (June 3, 2020) "Woodfin tells NBC’s ‘Today’ he’s received death threats after removing Confederate monument." {{BN}}
* Robinson, Carol & Ivana Hrynkiw (June 4, 2020) "Man who threatened to shoot Birmingham mayor, set off bomb in Linn Park arrested, police say." {{BN}}
* Robinson, Carol & Ivana Hrynkiw (June 4, 2020) "Man who threatened to shoot Birmingham mayor, set off bomb in Linn Park arrested, police say." {{BN}}
* Prickett, Sam (August 18, 2020) "[https://birminghamwatch.org/woodfins-budget-features-pay-cuts-furloughs-funding-reductions/ Woodfin’s Budget Features Pay Cuts, Furloughs and Funding Reductions]" ''Birmingham Watch''
* Webb-Hehn, Katherine (August 31, 2020) "[https://scalawagmagazine.org/2020/08/birmingham-police-budget-increase-controversy-qa/ Birmingham increases police budget by $11.2M despite demands to defund: 'People literally cannot breathe, and it's not because of George Floyd]'" ''SCALAWAG Magazine''
* Garrison, Greg (December 30, 2020) "Mayor Woodfin faced critical decisions in 2020." {{BN}}
* Garrison, Greg (December 30, 2020) "Mayor Woodfin faced critical decisions in 2020." {{BN}}
* Garrison, Greg (December 30, 2020) "Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin tests positive for COVID-19." {{BN}}
* Garrison, Greg (December 30, 2020) "Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin tests positive for COVID-19." {{BN}}

Revision as of 15:30, 29 April 2021

Randall Woodfin

Randall Lee Woodfin (born May 29, 1981 in Birmingham) is the Mayor of the City of Birmingham. He is a former assistant city attorney and former president of the Birmingham Board of Education.

Early Life and Education

Woodfin, the son of Cynthia Woodfin-Kellum, grew up in North Birmingham. He attended North Birmingham Elementary School, Putnam Middle School, and Shades Valley High School. While in school he worked as a bagger at Food Smart. Woodfin grew up with three siblings; his older brother Ralph was killed by gun violence in 2011. Woodfin's nephew Ralph Woodfin III was killed in August 2017.

Woodfin has a bachelor's degree in political science from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia and served as SGA president during his senior year in 2002-2003. Woodfin went on to earn his juris doctorate at Samford University's Cumberland School of Law.

Early Career

After college he returned to Birmingham as an assistant to Birmingham City Council president Lee Loder, and later as a staff member for the Birmingham Division of Youth Services and at the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity, where he participated in implementing programs through the Birmingham Weed & Seed Task Force.

After law school he went on to clerk for one of the firms representing the Board of Education. Woodfin was then appointed an assistant city attorney for the City of Birmingham in 2009.

He ran unsuccessfully for the District 3 seat on the Birmingham Board of Education in that year's municipal election. In the 2013 Birmingham municipal election, Woodfin ran for the vacant District 5 seat on the Board. He took over the role of president of the new board that emerged from state takeover and was responsible for addressing the needed improvements outlined by the AdvancED accrediting agency.

During the 2016 presidential election campaign, Woodfin served as statewide organizer for Hillary Clinton's campaign and briefly chaired the Young Professionals Advisory Council for the Birmingham office of the United Negro College Fund.

In August 2016 Woodfin announced his candidacy for the 2017 Birmingham mayoral election. Ed Fields managed the campaign while Pine Street Strategies of Washington D.C. conducted a national fundraising drive which targeted Morehouse graduates and pushed positive stories on Woodfin to the national media. He was endorsed locally by the Grassroots Coalition, the Birmingham Professional Firefighters Association, and the Birmingham Local Chapter of National Letter Carriers Association; and nationally by Our Revolution and the Political Revolution PAC. He garnered the largest number of votes on election day, advancing to a runoff with incumbent William Bell.

On October 3, 2017, Randall Woodfin won the run-off election for Mayor of Birmingham with 59% of the votes defeating incumbent Mayor William Bell.

Mayorship

Woodfin named Fields, Charles Krulak and Bobbie Knight to his transition team. On November 14 he announced that Cedric Sparks would serve as his chief of staff, with Kevin Moore as chief of operations, Kevin Datcher as chief of governmental affairs (to liaise with the City Council), Ed Fields as chief strategist and senior adviser, and Nicole King as city attorney. He was sworn into office on November 28, 2017.

On March 15, 2018 Woodfin hosted a public event at the Alabama Theatre to publicize "The Woodfin Way", the combined reports of his transition teams' analysis of city operations during his first 100 days in office. The report suggested several major changes to priorities and organization of City Hall. The mayor held a public event, called "The Big Picture," on March 21, 2019 at the Alabama School of Fine Arts' Dorothy Jemison Day Theater to update progress on his agenda. Woodfin delivered a mid-term update at Haven on December 3, 2019. He touted the growth of the Birmingham Neighborhood Revitalization Fund, which has made possible the paving of 16 miles of streets, the repair of 27,516 potholes, and the demolition of more than 700 dilapidated structures. He also spoke about the city's coordinated efforts to revitalized downtown Ensley. Other programs mentioned included the Birmingham Peace Campaign, the restructuring of the 311 service, the Pardons for Progress program, and the Birmingham Promise Initiative. Going forward, Woodfin announced future efforts to restructure the city's recycling program, to promote environmental justice, to reduce homelessness, and to support women- and minority-owned businesses.

Woodfin has been recognized for his use of social media to speak up on behalf of the city, in discussions about Civil Rights as well as a way to communicate with businesses considering expansions, such as Amazon, BMW, Cook Out, Delta and Kroger.

During the protests that followed the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, a group began vandalizing the Confederate Soldiers & Sailors Monument at Linn Park. Woodfin arrived at the scene and asked them to give him 24 hours to "finish" what they started. The next evening, during a citywide emergency curfew, crews did remove the upper part of the monument, in defiance of the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act. Woodfin's quick action was applauded by many, but also brought criticism and death threats from others. One significant telephoned threat led to a lockdown at Birmingham City Hall and nearby buildings. The lockdown was lifted after Warrior resident Brian Vest was arrested at home and charged with threatening the lives of Woodfin and others.

Woodfin announced his re-election campaign for Mayor of Birmingham on August 24 2020. In January 2021 Our Revolution - Birmingham, with support of Our Revolution National, released a statement repealing their previous endorsement of Randall Woodfin for Mayor of Birmingham, ahead of the 2021 municipal elections in Birmingham, Alabama. Two week earlier the Birmingham chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) - Birmingham Chapter released videos condemning Randall Woodfin's policies, which included a critic of his FY2021 budget that furloughed of hundreds of city employees while increasing the budget for the police department, and acknowledging that they will not be supporting his re-election campaign.

In January 2021 he was admitted to Princeton Baptist Medical Center for two nights to treat pneumonia related to COVID-19.

On April 20, 2021 Woodfin issued blanket pardons for all those convicted of misdemeanor marijuana possession in Birmingham Municipal Court. The action was taken after it was reported that his "Pardons for Progress" program had only reached a small fraction of those it was intended to help.

Preceded by:
April Williams 		Birmingham Board of Education president
2013–2015 		Succeeded by:
Wardine Alexander
Preceded by:
William Bell 		Mayor of Birmingham
2017– 		Succeeded by:
TBD

References

External links

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