Bell, Woods, and Woodfin Top Poll and Fundraising in Birmingham Mayor’s Race

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2017/08/Bham750.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:750;s:6:"height";i:318;s:4:"file";s:19:"2017/08/Bham750.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"Bham750-336x142.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:142;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"Bham750-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:17:"Bham750-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"Bham750-600x318.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:318;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"Bham750-600x318.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:318;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"Bham750-733x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:733;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"Bham750-470x199.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:199;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"Bham750-600x318.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:318;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"Bham750-600x318.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:318;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"Bham750-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_wp_attachment_image_alt] => Array
        (
            [0] => Left to right; William Bell, Chris Woods, and Randall Woodfin.
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Sherrel Stewart
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => WBHM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1674359484 
1501685317

A WBRC Fox 6 News poll in the Birmingham mayor’s race shows incumbent William Bell, building contractor Chris Woods, and Birmingham school board member Randall Woodfin leading the race as the Aug. 22 election approaches. Those same three candidates are leading in fundraising as well, according to a WBHM analysis.

Bell started the year with $291,877 in reserves and has raised $202,900. A large part of his campaign war chest comes from political action committees and Birmingham business leaders.

Woodfin started raising money as soon as he announced plans to run last August. He has raised $257,958. His fundraising has been bolstered by campaign events in places such as Houston and Washington, D.C. He’s received donations from as far away as Boston, Mass.

Most of Woodfin’s contributions are $100 or less. He received some larger donations from area lawyers and a few political action committees.

Woods has raised $38,198, and he has personally loaned his campaign $140,163.

Only four other candidates have reported raising money for their campaigns.

Community activist Frank James Matthews III reported raising $3,150, Brother Fernandez Sims reported $2,046, Lanny Jackson reported $1,159 and Randy Davis reported $1,050.

The WBRC Fox 6 poll was conducted by political scientist Natalie Davis. It sampled 214 registered voters in the city and has a margin of error of 5-7%.

The financial data is based on reports filed with the Jefferson County Probate Court made public as of Monday.

 

A massive winter storm will hit large parts of the U.S. through the weekend

A large storm system is expected to hit this weekend, with snow and ice from Texas to the Carolinas and up the Eastern seaboard. The winter system could bring more than a foot of snow.

House Oversight panel votes to hold Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress

Republicans on the committee have been seeking to question the Clintons as part of a probe into the government's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. The vote sends the matter to the full House.

Lindsey Halligan, Trump’s former personal attorney, exits Virginia prosecutor’s office

The move comes after a federal judge wrote in court document that the "charade of Ms. Halligan masquerading as the United States Attorney … must come to an end."

Global buzzwords that will be buzzing in your ear in 2026

Will it be a year of "fractured resilience"? Or "pragmatic empathy"? Will "MOUs" be the next global health strategy? Are we in a new age of "decolonization" — or of "localization"?

Supreme Court appears wary of allowing Trump to fire Fed’s Cook in closely watched case

The administration wants the authority to fire Lisa Cook, a Fed governor. Experts say that would undermine the independence of the central bank.

Sundance prepares for its final Park City festival before moving to Boulder, Colo.

As the festival prepares to move to Colorado, filmmakers and cinephiles gather to celebrate its founder and the future of indie film.

More 2017 Birmingham City Elections Coverage