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.
Prediction market trader ‘Magamyman’ made $553,000 on death of Iran’s supreme leader
It's the latest trade drawing scrutiny on the popular prediction market site for appearing to show an insider making profits on military secrets.
Oil prices rise sharply in market trading after attacks in Middle East disrupt supply
The high prices came as U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory strikes against Israel and U.S. military installations around the Gulf sent disruptions through the global energy supply chain.
Satellite images provide view inside Iran at war
Satellite images from commercial companies show the extent of U.S. and Israeli strikes, and how Iran is responding.
Mideast clashes breach Olympic truce as athletes gather for Winter Paralympic Games
Fighting intensified in the Middle East during the Olympic truce, in effect through March 15. Flights are being disrupted as athletes and families converge on Italy for the Winter Paralympics.
A U.S. scholarship thrills a teacher in India. Then came the soul-crushing questions
She was thrilled to become the first teacher from a government-sponsored school in India to get a Fulbright exchange award to learn from U.S. schools. People asked two questions that clouded her joy.
Sunday Puzzle: Sandwiched
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with WXXI listener Jonathan Black and Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz.
