Crystal Smitherman
Crystal Smitherman (born August 7, 1993 in Birmingham) is an attorney and representative of District 6 on the Birmingham City Council, having been appointed in December 2018 to fill the seat left vacant by Sheila Tyson's election to the Jefferson County Commission.
Smitherman is the daughter of State Senator Rodger Smitherman and Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Carole Smitherman. She graduated from Ramsay High School and earned her bachelor of science in biology at Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia in 2015. While at Hampton, Smitherman completed a research program at the Iracambi Rainforest Research Center in Brazil and played on the women's golf team.
She began law school at Samford University's Cumberland School of Law, but transferred to the University of Alabama School of Law in 2017. While in school, Smitherman worked as a law clerk at Marsh, Rickard & Bryan and Farris, Riley & Pitt, and as a contract educator for Girls Inc. She previously volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House, the Christian Service Mission, and YouthServe Inc.. She has interned with the Virginia Polytechnic Institute's Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program, and worked as an administrative assistant at the Highland Park Golf Course.
Smitherman was one of 16 applicants to fill the remaining term left by Tyson's resignation from the City Council in November 2018. She was appointed by unanimous vote and sworn in on December 18. After being admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 2019 she joined the Smitherman Law Firm.
Smitherman was elected to her seat as the incumbent in the 2019 Birmingham special election. She ran again in the 2021 Birmingham municipal election. She pledged to continue to focus on recycling, street and park lighting, and fiscal responsibility. She plans to promote tutoring, affordable housing, anti-violence programs, and access to health care. Her campaign was supported by The Committee for Good Government, Leadership PAC, and Dick Schmalz.
Smitherman was a member of the 2023–2024 class of Leadership Birmingham.
| Preceded by: Sheila Tyson |
Birmingham City Council District 6 December 2018- |
Succeeded by: current |
References
- Bryant, Joseph D. (January 5, 2015) "Studying in the rainforest: Birmingham native spending month studying in Brazil." The Birmingham News
- Prickett, Sam (December 18, 2018) "Birmingham Council Appoints Two New Members With Familiar Names." BirminghamWatch
- Gann, Heather (July 26, 2023) "Birmingham City Councilor wants to improve the city’s environment, education, and economy." The Lede/AL.com
External links
- Crystal Smitherman campaign website
- Crystal Smitherman at Linkedin.com