David Carrington

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David Carrington

David Carrington (born April 24, 1948 in Houston, Texas) is a business consultant, sports memorabilia dealer, former Vestavia Hills City Council president, and former president of the Jefferson County Commission.

Carrington earned his bachelor's in mathematics with a minor in economics (1970) and master's in business administration (1975) at the University of Houston and went to work in the merchandising department of Parisian department store in 1978. In 1983 he left to found WDC Systems, an inventory management and retail software provider. He purchased the Riverchase Galleria's That's Racin store in 1997 and transformed it into Racing USA, an independent retailer of NASCAR-related items. While undergoing cancer treatment in 1999, he decided to open a web-based store, RacingUSA.com, now the world's largest independently-owned retailer of NASCAR merchandise. Following the success of the online business, he closed his brick and mortar stores in Birmingham, as well as Huntsville, Trussville and Boaz. Carrington was honored as an Alabama Retailer of the Year in 2005.

In 2004 Carrington, then president of Leadership Vestavia Hills, was elected to the Vestavia Hills City Council. Two years later he became Council president, serving until 2010. He also served on the Board of Overseers for Samford University and is a former vice-president of the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce.

Carrington won the Republican nomination for the District 5 seat left open when Jim Carns decided not to run for re-election in 2010. Carrington won the primary with 66% of the vote, defeating two other candidates without a runoff. No Democratic candidate qualified for the District 5 general election.

Carrington was elected president of the Jefferson County Commission after taking office. One of his first acts was to re-organize the committee assignments of commissioners, making the position of president less powerful than it had been when the president controlled the finance and general services committees.

Carrington announced his candidacy for Governor of Alabama in early 2017. He dropped out of the race on September 13. Carrington did not run for a third term on the Commission in 2018. Steve Ammons was elected to his former seat. In retirement, Carrington plans to write a book about the county's emergence from bankruptcy and to seek consulting jobs based on his experience with governments in financial crisis. He also serves on the advisory board for the Birmingham Iron football team.

Carrington is married to Sonia Carrington, former principal of Rocky Ridge Elementary School. They have two sons and four grandchildren and are members of Shades Mountain Baptist Church.

Preceded by:
Greg Canfield
Vestavia Hills City Council president
2006-2010
Succeeded by:
Mary Lee Rice
Preceded by:
Jim Carns
Jefferson County Commission District 5
2010-2018
Succeeded by:
Steve Ammons
Preceded by:
Bettye Fine Collins
Jefferson County Commission President
2010-2014
Succeeded by:
Jimmie Stephens

References

  • Faulk, Kent (May 19, 2010) "Campaign 2010: Candidates won't rule out bankruptcy for sewer debt." The Birmingham News
  • Singleton, William C. III (September 15, 2010) "Vestavia Hills taking applications for City Council seat." The Birmingham News
  • Wright, Barnett (September 01, 2010) "Sandra Little Brown, David Carrington find common ground for Jefferson County Commission." The Birmingham News
  • Wright, Barnett (November 12, 2010) "New Jefferson County Commission president David Carrington known as consensus builder." The Birmingham News
  • Koplowitz, Howard (November 26, 2018) "David Carrington’s life after county commission includes consulting business." The Birmingham News

External links