When Frank Woodson was asked why he is running to be the mayor of Birmingham, the pastor referenced his personal Good Samaritan moment three years ago.

Woodson and his then 18-year-old son happened upon a young woman who had been accosted on the side of the road within blocks of their Belview Heights home. Rather than passing by, they stopped to render aid and to pray for her.

“When I was passing by, I didn’t ask whether or not the people that did it were still around,” Woodson said. “I didn’t ask what might happen to me if I stop and the people (who harmed her) are still around. I asked what would happen to her if I don’t stop.

“In this season, right here, I asked that question, what will happen to Birmingham if I don’t stop, get involved and become the next mayor?” the Belview Heights resident asked. “I can’t do that, just walk by.”

Only a year ago, Woodson sought the Democratic nomination for the District 52 seat in the Alabama House of Representatives that was vacated when former Rep. John Rogers resigned and pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges. He lost to Kelvin Datcher, who went on to soundly defeat Republican Erskine Brown Jr. in a special general election.

Woodson also ran to be part of the state Democratic Executive Committee.

Despite having not held public office, the 63-year-old said he’s operated behind the scenes in the political realm.

“I saw working in government as community service, not politics,” he said. “I learned that policies can change the quality of life for people, that resources flow through policies. My goal was to figure out, how do we get those resources back into our communities?”

Woodson calls himself a Birmingham transplant, born in Tacoma, Washington, and raised in a military family with seven siblings. He came to Birmingham as a right defender on the UAB soccer team and earned a degree in communication arts.

“I realized the need for leadership,” said the president and CEO of CityServe Alabama and co-founder of Central Alabama Redevelopment Alliance. “Not management, not supervision but real leadership. I realized that we need a leader that had experienced leading leaders.”

Woodson said the corporate community is waiting for leadership. So, too, he said, are the faith community and the nongovernmental organization (nonprofit) community.

“Leaders in this region are waiting on leadership and … Birmingham is at the forefront,” he continued. “They’re waiting on leadership. I am a proven and established leader among various sectors. I’m not a potential leader. I’m not a proven leader. I am an established leader who has worked with men and women that have led this region.”

The father of six and grandfather of six said he’s worked with CEOs and faith leaders the past 20 to 25 years behind the scenes.

“Birmingham’s at a pivotal time right now,” Woodson said. “Like never before, we need leaders who are able to lead other leaders in guiding our city through the times that we are living in. I believe that I am that leader.”

The candidate proudly says he mentored two-time incumbent Mayor Randall Woodfin. But he said he doesn’t believe the city has the leadership in place that it needs.

“We have amazing people that are in place, but we don’t have proven and established leaders in place that are able to unify the corporate community, faith community and the NGO community and the grassroot community,” Woodson said. “That’s a unique skill set and the times call for it now.”

The pastor of Covenant Community Fellowship said foundations and corporations look where the mayor looks. He said certain ZIP codes in the city are in disrepair because they are not getting the required attention.

“We are not, as a leader, taking responsibility for all of the ZIP codes, all of the 99 neighborhoods, all of the 23 communities that are here,” he said. “We’ve done good work in some areas.

“Why now?” Woodson asked. “Because we are dying for leadership. Our call for leadership is soaked in the blood of our children. I can’t let that be in vain.

“Our sons are dying in the streets,” he continued. “One hundred fifty-plus kids – kids killed. The only thing we come up with is, let’s figure out how to lock up the kids. And people are clapping.”

Woodson insists that workforce and educational programs are needed while youth are in school, programs that direct them onto the paths toward four-year college, and career and technical education that take advantage of already-established partnerships.

“We need solutions,” he said. “These are our problems that require our solutions, and this is our time.”

More information on Woodson is available on his campaign website.

Four others – Woodfin, state Rep. Juandalynn Givan, Jerimy Littlepage and Kamau Afrika – have officially announced they are running for mayor. The election is Aug. 26.