Birmingham City Council, District 9

Reginald Swanson

Age: 60

Residence: Pratt City

Political experience: First time to seek elected office; appointed to and served as chair of the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority.

Professional experience: Dentist in private practice, 1981-present; dentist for Jefferson County jail, 2006-2012; developer, owner and operator, Magnolia Terrace Senior-Handicap Housing, 40 units and 16 residential properties; private developer of nine commercial projects, 1984-2017.

Civic experience: Board member and president, Western Mental Health Center and Community Hospital Advisory Board; founder, Pratt Merchants Association; chair, Pratt Community Development Corp.;  volunteer, prison ministry at St. Clair Correctional, 1990-95; work release employer, 1992-1998; member of gospel traveling group “Bernard Williams and The Creations;” 2000 Minority Entrepreneur of the Year for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Education: UAB School of Dentistry, 1977-1980, UAB merit scholar, bachelor’s degree in natural science, including biology and chemistry, 1974-1977; Jackson-Olin High School, graduated in top three, 1974. Birmingham public schools and Jefferson County homebound schools, enrolled in homebound program until 1968 leg amputation improved his mobility.

Top contributors: David Swanson, loan, $7,500; self, loan, $5,240; Vanessa Leonard, $500; Addphus Jackson, $500.

Main issues: Wants to use his vision and record of success to help restore order, discipline, respect and proficiency in city government and concentrate on economic development, including assistance with entrepreneurial business formation.