It was the biggest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history at the time. But it’s been seven years since the Jefferson County Commission has been in the headlines for a $4 billion bankruptcy stemming from bad bond deals for a sewer system upgrade amid widespread corruption. It’s been difficult to emerge from that, says Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington, the only commissioner not seeking re-election. “We’ve gone from seven and a half years of hopelessness to energetic optimism,” he says.
That scandal might be in the rearview mirror for some, but Carrington says the next group of commissioners will have some work to do. The five commission seats are up for grabs during the June 5 primary.
Here are three things Carrington says the next commission will need to tackle.
Rebrand
The new commission has to rebrand the county locally, nationally, and internationally, Carrington says. County government is boring when things are going well, Carrington says, so residents typically do not know a lot about the work the county does on their behalf such as maintaining the sewer system and funding health care for the indigent. That message gets complicated during an election season when some candidates challenge incumbents and spread incorrect information, he says.
“One candidate was on Facebook saying the sewer rates are going up 40 percent in October, and that’s absolutely not correct,” Carrington says. “We’ll have a maximum increase on the sewer rate of 3.49 percent for the year.”
More Economic Development
The county must continue working to bring in more business and industry so middle class residents can have access to well-paying jobs, Carrington says.
“The county has $10 million available to help with economic development,” he says. That money can be used to help with incentives to attract businesses, he says.
Carrington says he wants the county to continue supporting programs that prepare residents for jobs and connect them with opportunities.
Be a Team Player
Cities throughout the Birmingham-Hoover metro area and as far away as Tuscaloosa worked together recently on a campaign to entice Amazon to build its second headquarters in Birmingham. In the end, Birmingham lost the bid, but Carrington says the effort showed that municipalities in and around Jefferson County can work together.
“The county commission can help with collaboration by working with mayors and working with city councils,” he says. “What’s good for Birmingham is good for Hoover, and it’s good for all of us.”
The Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama last year released a report highlighting the drawbacks to fragmented government.
Here’s a breakdown of the Jefferson County Commission races in the upcoming primaries:
Only Democrats are running for District 1 and District 2 commission seats.
In District 1, incumbent George Bowman faces Eric Major, Midfield Mayor Gary Richardson, and Birmingham City Councilwoman Lashunda Scales.
In District 2, incumbent Sandra Little Brown faces Richard Dickerson and Birmingham City Councilwoman Sheila Tyson.
Two Republicans are vying for commission seats in districts 3 and 5.
Incumbent James A. “Jimmie” Stephens faces Rodney Watson in District 3.
In District 5, the position currently held by Carrington, Steve Ammons faces State Rep. Jack Williams.
The District 4 race is the only one with both a Democrat and Republican candidate. Jefferson County Tax Collector J.T. Smallwood, a Democrat, faces incumbent Republican Commissioner Joe Knight.