Qualifying for the August 22 Birmingham City Elections began Friday, and already 17 people have entered various races. Mayor, council and school board seats will be on the ballot.
As of 3:45 p.m. Friday, two people had qualified to run for mayor – Lanny E, Jackson and Chris Woods, a Birmingham businessman.
Two incumbent council members qualified. Kim Rafferty is seeking re-election in District 2, and Valerie Abbott is seeking re-election in District 3. Also, Roderick Royal, the former council president, is runnig for his former seat in District 9; Marcus Lundy represents that district, but said he will not seek re-election.
Other candidates for city council include: Sherman Collins, District 1; Tyrone Williams, District 2; Wendell Major and David Russell, District 9; Ryan Jones, District 3; Dorothea Crosby, District 5; and Lonnie Malone, District 7.
Candidates qualifying Friday for Birmingham Board of Education include Amber Courtney, District 4; Lt. Buford Burks, David T. McKinney and Eloise Manning Crenshaw, District 5; and Patricia Spigner McAdory, District 7.