David Russell

Age: 74

Residence: Birmingham (Smithfield Estates)

Political experience: Russell has not been elected to office, but he has been on several ballots. He ran most recently for the District 9 seat on the Birmingham City Council in 2021. Before that, he was a candidate for the Alabama Public Service Commission in 1982; Birmingham City Council District 9 in 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017, and Alabama House District 60 in 2002, 2006 and 2010.

Professional experience: A.L. Williams, insurance sales, 1980-2015.

Civic experience: Southern Christian Leadership Conference, member.

Education: Alabama State University, bachelor’s in business administration and economics, 1973.

Major issues: Russell hopes to make downtown Ensley into a “Black Wall Street,” like the one that existed decades ago in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with thriving Black-owned businesses. He also wants to again make Birmingham the largest city in Alabama by annexing suburbs such as Lipscomb, Brighton, Fairfield, Forestdale and Midfield. As mayor, Russell hopes to bring Alabama A&M University back to the table in negotiations to purchase the former Birmingham-Southern College property.