Meet your candidates: District 2 city council election
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LAWRENCE CONAWAY
► Neighborhood: A Birmingham native, Conaway lives in South East Lake.
► Education: Athens State University (bachelor’s degree in electronics); UAB (MBA); Birmingham Theological Seminary (M.A. in ministry)
► Profession: Pastor at Fellowship Bible Church; has worked with many nonprofits.
► QUALIFICATIONS: “[I have] 20 years of being a servant-leader in the community working directly with people ... and working to solve problems that negatively impact youths and adults.”
► How do you distinguish yourself from the incumbent? “I’ll work to build bridges between the residents of District 2 and city leaders, as well as other stakeholders and organizations in the community.”
► Issues or concerns for district or city: “I’ll work to make our communities safer by pulling stakeholders together to develop solutions to systemic problems like poverty and joblessness that result in an increase in criminal activity.”
Conaway also mentions blight, infrastructure and business recruitment.
► WEB: Facebook.com/VoteLawrenceConaway
KIMBERLY JEANTY
► Neighborhood: A Florida native, Jeanty lives in South East Lake.
► Education: Business administration and marketing
► Profession: Works with nonprofits and government agencies; currently program director of Community Kitchens of Birmingham.
► QUALIFICATIONS: “I know firsthand what it takes to do the job," said Jeanty, who formerly served at Fafferty's neighborhood liaison and as neighborhood president.
► How do you distinguish yourself from the incumbent? “I am more hands-on than the incumbent ...I have positive relationships with neighborhood leaders, businesses and city officials and will work to bring change for the betterment of all."
► Issues or concerns for district or city: “Implementation of the Birmingham Comprehensive Plan; advocating for a more user-friendly governmental experience for residents; and holding the city responsible for maintaining its own properties."
Jeanty also cites to need to encourage entrepreneurs and small-business owners.
► WEB: Facebook.com/jeanty2017
STEPHEN L. MURPHY
► Neighborhood: A Birmingham native, Murphy lives in Crestline.
► Education: UAB (B.S. in social work), University of Alabama (master’s degree in social work)
► Profession: Director of risk management and regulatory compliance at a psychiatric hospital
► QUALIFICATIONS: “I’ve spent a lot of time working with and representing underrepresented people in unfavorable situations. I’ve had the opportunity to learn first-hand the needs of the community.”
► How do you distinguish yourself from the incumbent? “I’ve learned it’s difficult to lead people when you’re not present enough to be aware of needs. My leadership style is one that is present, accessible and dedicated to the people I serve.”
► Issues or concerns for district or city: “We can only truly thrive when our community is fully involved and engaged, our children are adequately and effectively educated, our neighborhoods are safe and we support our businesses.”
► WEB: stephenlmurphy.com or facebook.com/slmurphy2017
KIM RAFFERTY (I)
► Neighborhood: A Birmingham native, Rafferty lives in Roebuck Springs/South Roebuck.
► Education: UAB (bachelor’s degree in history) and University of Kentucky (associate’s degree in human services)
► QUALIFICATIONS: “I’ve worked very hard to ensure our efforts are proactive rather than reactive and that we work to efficiently serve the residents both of my district and Birmingham.”
► Accomplishments in current term: Among others, she cites $1 million in funding from Jefferson County Commission to rebuild Grants Mill Road Bridge, passage of a no-texting-while-driving ordinance and a rewrite and modernization of the city’s transportation code.
► Issues or concerns for district or city: Among other goals for her district, she cites the need to redevelop the long-vacant Banks High School property, complete improvements to the Elder Street corridor in Eastwood, finish parks in a half-dozen neighborhoods and ensure that environmental protections are in place for zoning in the Cahaba watershed.
► WEB: kimrafferty2017.com and facebook.com/kimrafferty2017
DEANNA REED
► Neighborhood: A Birmingham native, Reed lives in South East Lake.
► Education: Miles College (bachelor’s in public relations and journalism)
► Profession: Event management, including Bruno Event Team; local program coordinator for nonprofit Rickey Smiley Foundation.
► QUALIFICATIONS: “My personal mantra is ‘city before self.’”
► How do you distinguish yourself from the incumbent? “I will distinguish myself by continuing to be visible, accessible and involved. Communication is key in any relationship, so I want to improve the way residents get information and increase the level of engagement.”
► Issues or concerns for district or city: Reed cites “crime, communication and consensus.” She suggests block captains to help fight crime; said she would use town halls, social media and other means to keep her constituents fully informed; and added, “Unity is vital to accomplishing positive change.”
► WEB: facebook.com/ElectDeannaReed
JORDANTHOMPSON
► Neighborhood: An Atlanta native, Thompson moved to Alabama in 2008 and lives in Overton.
► Education: University of Alabama (bachelor’s in political science, ROTC commission); Cumberland School of Law at Samford University.
► Profession: He serves with the Alabama Army National Guard, works on veterans’ legal issues and founded the nonprofit Teams for Troops.
► QUALIFICATIONS: “I have actual diversified leadership experience and can utilize it to run our local government more efficiently. I’m willing to listen and consider views that may not exactly coincide with my own personal views in order to advocate for all Birminghamians.”
► How do you distinguish yourself from the incumbent? “Without directly attacking the incumbent, I can only think of so many things she has done on behalf of our city, and they aren’t many.”
► Issues or concerns for district or city: Better citizen access to government, infrastructure, education, public safety and attracting businesses.
► WEB: thompson2017.com or Facebook.com/JMThompson2017
HUNTER WILLIAMS
► Neighborhood: A Birmingham native, Williams lives in Crestline.
► Education: Southern Methodist University (finance degree)
► Profession: Deputy with Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, founder of company that provides medical support and other services to hospitals, serves as Crestline Neighborhood Association president.
► QUALIFICATIONS: “I’m part of the generation that’s the future of Birmingham. I’m educated, motivated and driven to make the city I grew up in and will live in for the rest of my life the best it can be.”
► How do you distinguish yourself from the incumbent? “It’s time for some new blood in city hall. Over the past four years, we’ve seen a regressive, ‘keep things status quo’ leadership.”
► Issues or concerns for district or city: Williams cites crime and suggests a “99 beat initiative” to place patrol officers in each neighborhood. Other concerns include street paving, infrastructure and expansion of green space, including Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve.
► WEB: hunterwilliams2017.com or Facebook.com/hunterwilliams2017
TYRONE WILLIAMS SR.
► Neighborhood: A Birmingham native, Williams lives in Roebuck Springs.
► Education: South Carolina State (biology, park and recreation); Alabama A&M (master’s degree in school administration); Miles College School of Law.
► Profession: Retired; school administrator at Birmingham Board of Education for 38 years.
► QUALIFICATIONS: “I’ve been around politics and issue-building. I’ve been around some of the local problems and seen some of the solutions ... I know the major players.”
► How do you distinguish yourself from the incumbent? “She has served two terms. Elected positions shouldn’t be permanent. I want to commend the incumbent for her hard work, but it’s time for a change.”
► Issues or concerns for district or city: “All neighborhoods matter. And we all have the same problems – roads, dilapidated housing, overgrown fields. We just need somebody at the helm to make suggestions that will benefit all of Birmingham.”