William Bell Will Run For Mayor’s Seat Again
Former Birmingham Mayor William Bell will enter this year’s mayoral race, challenging incumbent Mayor Randall Woodfin, who unseated him in 2017, according to news outlets.
Paperwork filed with Jefferson County’s probate court Monday shows that Bell has formed a principal campaign committee — of which he is the sole member — for a 2021 mayoral run.
Bell, 71, served as Birmingham mayor from 2010 to 2017; before that, he’d served as a city councilor and Jefferson County commissioner.
He was defeated by challenger Randall Woodfin in 2017; Woodfin, who criticized Bell for neglecting the city’s neighborhoods, received roughly 59% of the vote to Bell’s 41%.
Bell has not made an official announcement and did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
He joins an increasingly crowded field. Woodfin officially kicked off his re-election bid Saturday, while Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales announced her campaign on Jan. 18. Birmingham businessman Chris Woods, who placed third behind Woodfin and Bell in 2017, is also running again. Cerissa Brown, a mental health advocate and entrepreneur, will announce her candidacy next week.
Birmingham’s municipal election will take place on Aug. 24, with a runoff scheduled for Oct. 5.
Editor’s note: This post was updated Tuesday evening to reflect recent media reports indicating Bell’s plans to run.
Judge seeks sworn declaration from Justice Department in deportation case
At issue was whether plane-loads of alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang were deported despite the judge's order to turn the planes around.
Pentagon website removes, then restores, page honoring Black Medal of Honor recipient
Charles C. Rogers was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Richard Nixon in 1970. But a profile of the Vietnam War veteran was caught in an "auto removal process," the Defense Department says.
Navy warship is sent to the southern border to carry out Trump’s immigration plans
Capable of holding over 300 crew members and larger than any Coast Guard vessel, the USS Gravely has been assigned to help tighten border security, operating on both domestic and international waters.
Residents pick up the pieces after devastating storms
The three-day outbreak of severe weather across seven states, including Alabama, kicked up a devastating combination of wildfires, dust storms and tornadoes, claiming at least 42 lives since Friday.
What Russia and Ukraine want out of talks, as Trump speaks to Putin Tuesday
President Trump will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, as the U.S. pursues a ceasefire deal in Ukraine.
Trump blames Iran for Houthi attacks on shipping after U.S. strikes in Yemen
Trump blames Iran for Houthi attacks on international shipping