Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin Wins Another Term
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin was elected to another term Tuesday evening, taking in roughly 64% of the vote.
Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales trailed behind with around 21% of the vote and former Birmingham Mayor William Bell behind her with 9% of the vote.
But voter turnout remained low in this year’s election, with only 25% of active voters casting a ballot.
Woodfin took the stage to chants of “four more years” at an election night watch party with supporters.
“You told us to invest in your neighborhoods, and we did. You told us to pave more streets and we did. You told is to tear down this blight and we did. You told us to invest in our younger generation and we did with the Birmingham Promise,” Woodfin said. “I also want you to know, that my commitment and sense of urgency will be the same over the next four years. Thank you for this opportunity to continue to represent you. Thank you for this opportunity to continue to lead our city. And thank you for this opportunity to be in the trenches with you to make the city of Birmingham better.”
Woodfin plans to accomplish a variety of things as part of his ‘Vision 2025 Plan.’ Some of these include:
- Further expanding the Birmingham Promise Scholarship Initiative
- Expanding COVID-19 vaccination sites
- Implementing the City’s PEACE Strategy, a public health-based approach to preventing gun violence in Birmingham
- Launching “Operation Second Chance,” a program for Birmingham residents to expunge misdemeanors and select felonies from their criminal records
- Expand the city’s Pardons for Progress program
- Continuing the Birmingham Police Department’s policy of de-emphasizing marijuana possession cases so that minor marijuana possession cases no longer go before our municipal courts
- Working to clear any remaining backlog of untested rape kits in Birmingham
- Continuing efforts to revitalize Birmingham’s 99 neighborhoods.
Woodfin was first elected in 2017 after beating incumbent Mayor William Bell.
TONIGHT: I’m at Mayor Woodfin’s Election Night Celebration at The Fennec pic.twitter.com/t8o4SyblkZ
— Cody D. (@codydonair) August 25, 2021
Alabama Power seeks to delay rate hike for new gas plant amid outcry
The state’s largest utility has proposed delaying the rate increase from its purchase of a $622 million natural gas plant until 2028.
Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones announces run for Alabama governor
Jones announced his campaign Monday afternoon, hours after filing campaign paperwork with the Secretary of State's Office. His gubernatorial bid could set up a rematch with U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, the Republican who defeated Jones in 2020 and is now running for governor.
Scorching Saturdays: The rising heat threat inside football stadiums
Excessive heat and more frequent medical incidents in Southern college football stadiums could be a warning sign for universities across the country.
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor to join our award-winning team covering important regional stories across Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
Judge orders new Alabama Senate map after ruling found racial gerrymandering
U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco, appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term, issued the ruling Monday putting a new court-selected map in place for the 2026 and 2030 elections.
Construction on Meta’s largest data center brings 600% crash spike, chaos to rural Louisiana
An investigation from the Gulf States Newsroom found that trucks contracted to work at the Meta facility are causing delays and dangerous roads in Holly Ridge.
