Birmingham elections: Woodfin defeats Bell, two council incumbents beaten

Birmingham will have a new mayor and two incumbent council members have lost their seats, based on unofficial results in the runoff election for Tues., Oct. 3.

Mayoral challenger Randall Woodfin, with 70 of 71 boxes counted – all but provisional ballots -- had a big lead over incumbent Mayor William Bell.

He had 24,910 votes, or 59 percent, to Bell’s 17,353 votes, or 41 percent.

When asked about the first thing on his to-do list, the mayor-elect joked, "I'm going to take a nap." More seriously, he said he plans to start work on his transition team to take office.

"It is a good moment for the city," Woodfin said, adding that it was humbling to see supporters come out to his watch party at the Haven event center.

"I know what's on my shoulders and it's heavy," Woodfin said.

Bell made his concession speech around 10 p.m. at Sky Castle in Lakeview, shaking hands with supporters and thanking them for their efforts on his behalf. While the numbers were not in his favor, Bell said he plans to continue efforts to improve Birmingham both in and out of office.

Hunter Williams handily defeated incumbent Kim Rafferty in the District 2 City Council race, winning 3,097 votes, or about 71 percent, to Rafferty’s 1,239 votes, or about 29 percent.

And City Council President Johnathan Austin seems to have been edged out in his reelection bid by community activist Darrell O’Quinn.

O’Quinn had 2,430 votes, or 52 percent, to Austin’s 2,271 votes, or about 48 percent.

In the open seat for District 9, Roderick Royal and John Hilliard were neck and neck all night, but Hilliard had the edge with 2,712 votes to Royal’s 2,650 as of Tuesday night.

School Board results

District No. 1: Douglas Lee Ragland 2319 (52 percent); Cedric Small 2,164 (48 percent)

District No. 4: Daagye Hendricks 2,185 (51 percent); Edward Maddox 2,080 (49 percent)

District No. 5: Michael Millsap 2,570 (57 percent): David T. McKinney 1,972 (43 percent).

District No. 7: Patricia Spigner McAdory 3.055 (60 percent); Walter Wilson 2.036 (40 percent).

District No. 8: Sonja Q.Smith 2,837 (or 64 percent); Patricia Bozeman Henderson 1,619 (36 percent).