May Fairfield
Edward E. May II Age: 42 Occupation: Lawyer Political experience: City attorney, 2013-2016; mayor, 2016-April 2019. Main issue: Re-create a sense of civic pride with strong economic initiative.
Government
Craig Fairfield
Jennifer Craig Information unavailable
No Improprieties in Possible Switch of Jeffco Auditor, Former CFO Says
None of the improprieties suggested in Wednesday’s Jefferson County Commission took place, former Jefferson County Chief Financial Officer John Henry told Birmingham Watch today. Henry said County Manager Tony Petelos and Commission Finance Chairman Joe Knight knew of his advice concerning a possible switch from Warren Averett to Banks Finley as the county’s primary auditor. Commissioners had a sometimes-heated discussion Wednesday about a resolution to extend for three years the county’s contract with Warrant Averett, a white-owned accounting firm. The discussion included the suggestion that a deal had been brokered to change to the Black-owned firm Banks Finley. Commissioner Lashunda Scales said during the meeting that extending the contract to the white-owned firm was a throwback to the days when the county did not consider racial and gender diversity in its hiring practices. Commissioners ultimately passed a substitute motion by Scales to reduce the extension to one year, at which point a change could be considered. Read more.
Residents of 27 Jefferson County Municipalities Are Choosing Leaders in Elections Today
Residents of 27 cities and towns around Jefferson County are deciding today on leadership for the next four years. Mayors and city council members are on the ballots for most of the municipalities. Runoff elections will be held Oct. 6 for any races in which no candidate gets a majority of the ballots cast. Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. in each of the municipalities. Birmingham and Bessemer do not hold elections this month. Voters’ Toolbox for Aug. 25 Municipal Elections. For a list of cities and towns with elections and information about who is on the ballot, read more.
County Crew Must Move a Small Mountain to Put Out Underground Fire in Forestdale
Roads and Transportation Department workers from Jefferson County have taken on the task of moving a “small mountain” in their efforts to battle an underground fire that has annoyed Forestdale neighbors with smoke for more than a month. Jefferson County deputy county manager Cal Markert said the steeply sloped terrain of the property off Timber Ridge Drive and Forestdale Bend Road makes battling the smoldering illegal dump site particularly tough. “We can't work at it from the top because it won't hold heavy equipment, and the slope is so steep on the backside you can't climb up on it with heavy equipment,” Markert said. “We're basically going to start at the bottom and just very slowly excavate out with our equipment and try to get it separated that way.” Read more.
Accounting Contract Leads to Squabble on the Jefferson County Commission
A contentious meeting of the Jefferson County Commission led to verbal sparring in the commission chamber after the meeting ended. Commission President Jimmie Stephens and President Pro Tem Lashunda Scales lingered on the dais Wednesday as most who had been in the session exited. Stephens said he felt he was being disrespected as Scales discussed a proposed extension of the county’s contract with an accounting firm to perform annual audits. At one point, Stephens said Scales implied that he was being racist in performing his duties as a commissioner. “I’m going to administer government in this county like it’s colorblind,” Stephens said as he left the chamber. Replied Scales: “I know dead presidents are colorblind,” referring to money. A resolution seeking a three-year extension of the county’s contract with Warren, Averett, Kimbrough, and Marino, LLC was pulled from the consent agenda for separate consideration. Commissioner Sheila Tyson repeated the concern she expressed during Tuesday’s committee meeting that Warren Averett lacked the diversity that the county should display as it seeks to escape the cloud of a decades-old consent decree for past hiring practices. Read more.
Fairfield
Mayor Jennifer Craig Edward E. May II Cynthia Turner McDowell Eddie Penny Jeffery Rowser Frederick D. Scott Micheal K. Williams City Council Council President: Herman A. Carnes Jr., John Hackett Jr. District 2: Gloria Matthews, Susan Jo Rembert Parks, Wanda Shelby District 3: E.J. Foster, Kenya Newell District 4: Tasha Renae Luster, Cedric Norman
Taylor Brighton
Bruce L. Taylor Age: 28 Occupation: Legal assistant Political experience: Ran unsuccessfully for council in 2012 and 2016. Main issue: Ultimately bringing more business into Brighton, starting by cleaning up the city.
Rudolph Brighton
Tyrone Rudolph Age: 60 Occupation: Retired from U.S. Pipe. Political experience: Ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2016. Main issue: Community and economic development, including a community park for sports fields and a running/walking trail.
Cooper Brighton
Eddie E. Cooper Age: N/A Occupation: Mail handler, USPS. Political experience: Mayor since 2017, mayor from 2000 to 2008, on city council from 1992 to 2000. Main issue: N/A