Wardine Alexander
Wardine Towers Alexander (born July 26, 1955) is a former medical technician and the appointed representative of District 7 on the Birmingham City Council. She was president of the Birmingham Board of Education from 2015 to 2017.
Alexander graduated from Wenonah High School in 1973 and attended the University of Alabama before she earned a bachelor of science in medical technology at UAB in 1978. She was board certified as a medical technologist with a specialty in blood banking and work in clinical laboratory medicine. She worked as a training manager at the American Red Cross before moving to a similar role at BioLife Plasma Services. She was a one-time president of the Alabama State Association of Blood Banks before she retired in 2016.
In March 2013 Alexander was appointed to represent District 7 on the Board of Education, filling a vacancy left after the resignation of Alana Edwards Haynes.
She ran successfully for re-election to the board in the 2013 Birmingham municipal election. In her campaign, she voiced support for increasing student achievement and parental involvement in schools. In November 2015 Alexander was elected to succeed Randall Woodfin board president. She lost her bid for re-election to the board in the 2017 Birmingham municipal election, finishing third behind challengers Patricia McAdory and Walt Wilson. Cheri Gardner was elected to succeed her as president of the board.
Alexander has served on the boards of One Roof and the Trinity Community Development Center. On April 17, 2018 the Birmingham City Council appointed Alexander to the Birmingham Public Library Board.
Alexander applied for the vacant District 7 seat on the Birmingham City Council after the resignation of Jay Roberson in September 2018. The council split on whether to appoint her or Lonnie Malone in their October 16 meeting. After Steven Hoyt changed his vote, she was appointed by a 5-3 majority on October 30 and sworn in the same day. Her new position required her to step down from the library board. She was elected to keep her seat in the 2019 Birmingham special election.
In 2020 Alexander was admitted to a fellowship from Mitch Landrieu's E. Pluribus Unum Fund, to support a project aimed at reducing inequity and discrimination in the city. Alexander ran as the incumbent to keep her seat in the 2021 Birmingham municipal election. In her campaign she focused on neighborhood clean-up, community revitalization, and improved COVID-19 response. She was endorsed by Laborers Union Local 559, and received sizable donations from Millennials PAC, Southern Strategy Group PAC, and Corporate Realty Development.
Alexander was a member of the 2023 class of Leadership Birmingham.
| Preceded by: Randall Woodfin |
Birmingham Board of Education president 2015–2017 |
Succeeded by: Cheri Gardner |
| Preceded by: Jay Roberson |
Birmingham City Council District 7 October 30, 2018– |
Succeeded by: ' |
References
- Rodriguez, Ana (August 23, 2013) "District 7 residents seek candidate who will tackle overgrown lot, abandoned home, uninterested youth problems." The Birmingham News
- Edgemon, Erin (October 30, 2018) "Birmingham City Council makes appointment to empty seat." The Birmingham News
- Prickett, Sam (October 30, 2018) "Birmingham Council appoints new member, while mayoral staff’s absence draws sharp criticism." BirminghamWatch
- Rebman, Stephanie (October 2, 2020) "Birmingham Councilor Wardine Alexander named to UNUM Fellows class." Birmingham Business Journal
External links
- Wardine Alexander campaign website