Antwon Womack
Antwon Bernard Womack (born c. 1988) is a freelance paralegal, senior pastor at Destiny Cathedral Harvest Church, and president of the Ensley Highlands Neighborhood Association.
Womack dropped out of Wenonah High School as a freshman in 2004. He made his first run for public office as a candidate for Mayor of Tarrant in the 2008 municipal election, but only garnered four votes against incumbent Loxcil Tuck.
2009 campaign
Womack qualified to run for Birmingham Board of Education, District 6 in the 2009 election. During his campaign (motto: "Education Does Matter") he claimed to be two years older than he was, to have graduated from West End High School, and to have a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Alabama A&M University. The Birmingham News discovered the fabrications and reported that the address he gave was his aunt's house and that his actual residence was in Fairfield. It was also revealed that he had falsely claimed to have worked as "Director of Youth Affairs" for the Alabama Young Democrats, and also claimed the titles of "Bishop" and "Doctor" in an application for a "Netroots Nation" scholarship.
Womack admitted to the lies about his age and education, but announced that he did live in District 6 and would remain in the race. The Birmingham News quoted him as saying "My values are not lies. It's just the information I provided to the people is false."1 Two days later he scheduled another press conference in order to announce that he was dropping out because "This race has just gotten to be too much for me." 2 He did not appear for the announced press conference. The following Sunday, August 22, Womack changed his mind again, issuing the following statement:
Today I am re-assuring the voters of my district that has expressed their continuing support in my campaign in spite of my false statements about my pass. I will not comment publicly about my allegations anymore, however now is time for me to express my thoughts on why I am in this race. Early part of the year I questioned about running for the school board and which district to run for, and also talked with my friends and now supporters that encouraged me to enter the race.[sic]3
Womack went on to identify Carole Smitherman and LaShunda Scales as people who had encouraged him to enter the race and supported his campaign. Both Birmingham City Council candidates disavowed any such support. In the August 25 election, Womack came in distant fourth with 117 votes (3.4%).
Later campaigns
In 2010 Womack filed qualification papers for to run for Jefferson County Board of Education, challenging Jacqueline Smith in the Place 5 seat she has held since 1986. He was the first candidate to qualify, but later withdrew, leaving Smith unopposed. Womack told the News that since 2009 he had taken the General Educational Development (GED) exam, but had not received his results.
In 2013 Womack again qualified for the Birmingham Board of Education, this time in District 8, challenging April Williams. During the campaign he voiced intentions to increase job opportunities for graduates by working with local businesses and focusing the system's job cuts on high-salary positions.
Womack founded Destiny Cathedral Harvest Church as a religious non-profit in 2016, using an address associated with the Place to Remember Event Center in Midfield. He eventually completed his graduation requirements through Birmingham City Schools' Dropout Recovery Program in 2017. Since then he has earned an associate's degree and a bachelor's degree from Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Baldwin County. He also worked with the Alabama Young Democrats.
Womack was elected vice-president of the Ensley Highlands Neighborhood Association in the 2022 Birmingham neighborhood elections.
He was one of 7 Democratic candidates who qualified for the January 2024 special election to fill the Alabama House District 55 seat left vacant by the resignation of Fred Plump. He finished last in the primary.
In the 2025 Birmingham municipal election Womack qualified again for election to the Board of Education from District 8. He faced Pamela Bass for the seat left open by Sonja Smith decision to campaign for Birmingham City Council.
Notes
- Leech-August 19, 2009
- Leech-August 21, 2009
- Stewart-August 22, 2009
References
- MacDonald, John A. (August 26, 2008) "Tarrant Mayor Loxcil Tuck tops field of five candidates for easy re-election." The Birmingham News
- Leech, Marie (August 18, 2009) "Birmingham school board candidate lied about biography, records show and he admits." The Birmingham News
- Leech, Marie (August 19, 2009) "Birmingham, Alabama school board candidate Antwon Womack admits lying about background but vows not to quit." 'The Birmingham News
- Leech, Marie (August 21, 2009) "Birmingham school board candidate who lied about bio doesn't show up for own press conference saying he was quitting." 'The Birmingham News
- Stewart, Sherrel Wheeler (August 22, 2009) "School board candidate Antwon Womack says he's staying in the race afterall." The Birmingham News
- Pelfrey, David (September 3, 2009) "Antwon, We Hardly Knew Ye." Dead City Diary. Black & White
- Leech, Marie (March 31, 2010) "Antwon Womack again running for school board -- this time Jefferson County." The Birmingham News
- Leech, Marie (April 1, 2010) "With video: Antwon Womack says scrutiny too much; he'll quit race for Jefferson County school board." The Birmingham News
- Watkins, Mia (August 23, 2013) "Birmingham election: Abandoned lots, police and area youth concern District 8 voters." The Birmingham News
- Rocha, Alander (September 24, 2023) "House District 55 Special Election Candidates." Alabama Reflector / BirminghamWatch
- McMurrey, Olivia (April 16, 2025) "Womack Making Fourth Bid for Birmingham School Board." BirminghamWatch
External links
- Antwon Womack campaign page on facebook.com