Birmingham Fills City Council Vacancies

BIRMINGHAM, AL - For the first time in months, the Birmingham City Council will operate at full capacity, as the two council seats vacated by Sheila Tyson and Lashunda Scales have been filled. The council approved the appointments of Clinton Woods - who will represent District 1 - and Crystal Smitherman - who will represent District 6. The city council determined the seat holders after voting from a pool of six finalists.

Smitherman is a law student at the University of Alabama School of Law. She most recently served as an intern at the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. Smitherman is the daughter of state Sen. Rodger Smitherman and Judge Carole Smitherman, who also served on the council.

Woods, owner of a general contracting firm, most recently served as the campaign manager for Mark Pettway for Jefferson County Sheriff.

“I’d like to say thank you to the council for making a good and quick decision today,” Council President Valerie Abbott said in a release. The council had 32 applicants for the two seats, vacated after Tyson and Scales each won election to the Jefferson County Commission.

Woods and Smitherman join Wardine Alexander as new council members, after Alexander was chosen to fill the seat vacated by Jay Roberson in September.

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“I want to congratulate the new councilors. I’m no longer the new kid on the block,” Alexander said. “The candidates did not make this an easy task for us. I look forward to you joining us.”

According to the Mayor-Council Act, the council is to fill vacancies at subsequent council meetings. The appointees may hold office until the next citywide election.

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