Vacant City Council Seats Have 32 Applicants

BIRMINGHAM, AL - The last 12 months have seen significant changes in Birmingham's leadership. Last fall's municipal elections saw a new mayor elected in Randall Woodfin, replacing long-time civic leader William Bell, a new city council president in Valerie Abbot and three new council members.

Since then, three more council seats have been vacated, after council members Sheila Tyson and Lashunda Scales opted to run for Jefferson County Commission just months after being re-elected to their city council seats. Both were successful in their bids for the county commission, and councilman Jay Roberson stepped down from his seat in September, citing a move out of the city as his reason.

Roberson seat was filled in October by former Birmingham City Board of Education President Wardine Alexander, and Abbott said the council would accept applications for the remaining empty seats until Nov. 16. She has reported that 32 applicants have responded, although an interview schedule has not been set.

District 1

• Michael Milner
• Terrika Shaw
• Clinton Woods
• Sherman Collins Jr. (former Birmingham Board of Education member, who ran for this seat last year)
• Brandon McCray
• William Harden Jr.
• John Norman
• Sims Smith
• Michael Todd
• Kintisha M. Matthews
• Alberto D. Reid
• Michael Bell (brother of former Birmingham Mayor William Bell)
• Cedric Small
• Gwendolyn Welch

District 6

• Keith Williams (who formerly ran for this seat)
• Abigail Gambles
• Carlos M. Chaverst Jr. (activist)
• Barry Bearden
• Onoyemi Williams
• Tony D. Christon-Walker
• Richard A. Rice (Birmingham attorney)
• Clarence Muhammad
• Keinijel Davis
• Carla English
• Crystal Smitherman
• Ervin Philemon Hill II (ran for mayor last year)
• LaTanya Millhouse
• W.J. Maye, Jr.
• Willine Body
• Andre McShan
• Brandon Cleveland
• Steve Small Jr.

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