Birmingham City Council

City Allocates $4M in Emergency Funding to Rehab Ramsay-McCormack

Plans to renovate the long-derelict Ramsay-McCormack Building in Ensley are underway. The Birmingham City Council voted Tuesday to approve a $4 million plan that could have the building revitalized and open by August 2021, developers say. The council’s decision comes just one day before a lawsuit against the city over the building’s renovation is slated to once again go before a judge. The 10-story office building, which was built in 1929, has been empty since 1986.

by Sam Prickett

Birmingham Council Elects Parker as New President

The Birmingham City Council voted Tuesday to appoint District 4 Councilor William Parker as its new president and District 7 Councilor Wardine Alexander as president pro tempore. Parker takes over from District 3 Councilor Valerie Abbott, who had held the seat since October 2017. The council’s vote was narrowly split between Parker and District 1 Councilor Clinton Woods, who had just been sworn into office after winning his first public election; he originally was appointed to the council in December. Abbott and District 8 Councilor Steven Hoyt both jockeyed for the decisive vote, repeatedly asking the city clerk to pass over them until everyone else had voted. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

One Birmingham City Council Seat Goes to a Runoff; Two Incumbents Returned to the Council

One Birmingham City Council seat will be up for a runoff after none of the candidates won more than 50 percent of the votes in Tuesday’s balloting. See full results here. Wardine Towers Alexander will face Ray Brooks on Nov. 19 in a runoff for the council District 7 seat. Alexander won 42.41% of the vote to challenger Ray Brooks’ 30.88%. Two other races were decided Tuesday. Crystal Smitherman will return as council District 6 councilor, having garnered 51.50% of the vote in a seven-candidate field. In the District 1 race, Clifton Woods will return to the council, with 71.27% of the vote in his district. The three propositions to renew separate ad valorem taxes all passed by wide margins, with those voting yes in each race amounting to about 90%. Reporting of full results was delayed until Wednesday because of an error in the handling of electronic machine memory cards at three different precincts. The cards from the Martha Gaskins School, Robinson Elementary School and Five Points West precincts were sealed inside boxes that contained the paper ballots filled out by voters. Officials with the Birmingham City Clerk’s office had to get a court order Wednesday morning to allow them to open the box and add those votes to the total. Read more.

by Robert Carter and Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Birmingham Special Election Draws Crowded Candidate Field in District 6

Birmingham voters go to the polls Tuesday to elect council members in three districts. Turnout in the special election is expected to be low, but interest is high in District 6, an area that covers UAB, Titusville, and parts of west Birmingham. That race has seven candidates — more than twice the number of the other contests. Residents say, there’s lots of work ahead for whoever wins the seat. Among the main issues, residents say, are eliminating blight and bringing quality retail shops and grocery stores to the area. Read more.

by Sherrel Wheeler Stewart, WBHM

Candidates for Birmingham City Council on the Oct. 8 Ballot

  City Council D1 Sherman Collins Jr. Haki Jamaal Muhammad Clinton Woods City Council D6 Willine Body Carlos Chaverst LaTanya Millhouse Clarence Muhammad Crystal Smitherman Keith O. Williams Onoyemi “Oni” Williams City Council D7 Wardine Towers Alexander Ray Brooks Lonnie Franklin Malone Birmingham City Council district maps  

by BirminghamWatch

Clarence Muhammad

Birmingham City Council, District 6 Age: 44 Residence: Birmingham (West End) Political Experience: Volunteer and Political Organizer, 21 years. Professional Experience: Kermit Realty Investors, LLC Civic Experience: Student Minister, The Nation of Islam, 2013-present; Member, Metropolitan Services for the Homeless, 2019, 2002-05; Board Member, Metropolitan Services for the Homeless, 2002-05; Volunteer, Mothers Against Violence, 1997-99.

by Sam Prickett

Latanya Millhouse

Birmingham City Council, District 6 Age: 49 Residence: Birmingham (Titusville) Political Experience: None Professional Experience: Senior Program Manager, The Alpha Omega Group, 2003-present; Small Business Program Manager, Operation HOPE, 2013-15; Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Case Manager, Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity, 2010-12; Legal Secretary, Internal Revenue Service, 2008-09; Human Resource Planner/Job Developer, Jefferson

by Sam Prickett

Sherman Collins Jr.

Birmingham City Council, District 1 Age: 46 Residence: Woodbrook Road Political Experience: Candidate, Birmingham City Council District 1, 2017. Vice President, Birmingham Board of Education, 2013-17. Professional Experience: Owner of Scollin and Associates Insurance Agency, 18 years; owner of NewComers Realty, 18 years. Civic Experience: Founder, 42 Acts of Random Kindness; Mentor and Volunteer Basketball

by Sam Prickett

Wardine Towers Alexander

Birmingham City Council District 7 Age: 64 Residence: Birmingham (Roosevelt) Political experience: Birmingham City Councilor, 2018-present. President, Birmingham School Board, 2015-2017. Member, Birmingham School Board, 2013-2017. Professional experience: Quality Assurance Supervisor (Retired), BioLife Plasma/Shire, 1999-2017. Education Manager (Retired), American Red Cross Blood Services, 1977-1999. Civic experience: Member, Birmingham Public Library Board, 2018. Former member and

by Sam Prickett

Clinton Woods

Birmingham City Council, District 1 Age: 33 Residence: Birmingham (Echo Highlands) Political Experience: Birmingham City Councilor, 2019-present. Campaign manager, Mark Pettway for Sheriff, 2017-2018. Previously worked as consultant on several other political campaigns. Professional Experience: Owner, Prescott Contracting, 2017-present. Construction Manager, Tacoma Housing Authority, 2016-2017. General Contractor, Prescott Contracting, 2012-2015. Project Manager, C.W. Woods Contracting,

by Sam Prickett