Birmingham City Council District 8

Gerri Robinson

Age: 62

Residence: Fairview neighborhood

Political races: Unsuccessful runs for Birmingham City Council, District 8, 2005, 2009 and 2013.

Professional experience: Attorney, Washington & Associates, 2001-present; previous work as municipal prosecutor and service as special judge; City of Birmingham, employee for 25 years, serving 10 years in the mayor’s office under Mayors David Vann and Richard Arrington, 11 years in the city garage department and four years as city council assistant to council member LeRoy Bandy; Century 21 Realty Co., real estate agent, 1979.

Civic experience: Board member, Neighborhood’s United States of America, 2008-present; board member, Neighborhood Housing Services Birmingham, 2012-present; board member, Alabama Institute for the Deaf & Blind, 2014-present; president, Fairview Neighborhood Association, 2007-present; current vice president and past president, American Legion Auxiliary; mentor, The Dannon Project, 2014-present.

Education: Birmingham School of Law, juris doctor, 1993-1996; Birmingham-Southern College, bachelor of science in management 1986-1988; UAB, 1984-1985; Lawson State Community College, associate’s in applied science, 1973-1975.

Top contributors: None filed.

Main issues: Robinson’s priorities include maintaining strong connections with residents, building a first-class school system and providing resources and attention to help neighborhoods. She points to her experience as a 25-year city employee working with mayors and councils and her vigilance attending city council meetings for more than four years, along with her legal background and volunteer work, as making her best qualified to do the job of City Council member. “I understand the importance of the mayor and city council working together, an essential connection,” she says, noting that connection is often lacking. “I was a single mother of two minor children while working at the mayor’s office and attended college and then law school while working fulltime. These experiences and work as a neighborhood leader taught me how to communicate effectively and respectfully with other leaders and with the people who are directly affected by city government, services and decisions.”