Meet your candidates: District 3 city council election
To check on your voter registration information or to confirm your polling place, visit alabamavotes.gov. If you are not registered to vote, you have until Aug. 8 to do so.
VALERIE ABBOTT (I)
► Neighborhood: A Birmingham native, Abbott is a long-time Glen Iris resident.
► Education: Auburn University (bachelor’s degree in interior design), Birmingham-Southern (master’s in public and private management)
► Profession: Employed at AT&T (formerly South Center Bell) for 40 years.
► QUALIFICATIONS: “Experience and accountability. I attend neighborhood meetings and community events throughout the city. This is my way of learning about the needs and concerns of citizens throughout Birmingham.”
► Accomplishments in current term: “My emphasis on the council has been quality of life,” Abbott said, citing several bond projects, the renovation of parks in the district and a partnership for a $5-million-dollar renovation at Vulcan Trail.
► Issues or concerns for district or city: Implementing a five-year paving plan, creating better schools and safer communities and minimizing the waste of taxpayer money on travel and events. Other concerns are city property maintenance and a lack of funds for libraries.
► WEB: Facebook: Councilor Valerie A. Abbott
ROWAN HENDERSON
► Neighborhood: Birmingham native, Henderson lives in Five Points South.
► Education: A rising senior at Birmingham-Southern College, studying business and economics.
► Profession: Henderson recently passed Alabama life insurance examination.
► QUALIFICATIONS: “I believe very strongly in listening to every side in a given debate, and I believe I have the ability to listen to the needs and desires of all parties, the ability to get people invested and excited about an idea, and bold new ideas to make Birmingham the city of the future.”
► How do you distinguish yourself from the incumbent? “Birmingham needs to innovate to grow ... We need to invest in job training for coding and STEM fields, so we can ensure the jobs of the future are located in Birmingham.
► Issues or concerns for district or city: “We need to focus on reducing crime and ensuring that we invest our budget in the right things to make our city grow.”
► WEB: Facebook.com/RowanHenderson2017
RYAN JONES
► Neighborhood: A Hoover native, Jones has been a Southside resident for 20 years.
► Education: UAB (bachelor’s degree in political science, master’s in public administration)
► Profession: Human resources professional for Jefferson County.
► QUALIFICATIONS: “I have a long-term vision for our future. I understand how to utilize the best modern practices to improve our city, and I possess the drive to see them implemented.”
► How do you distinguish yourself from the incumbent? “In the 16 years my opponent has been in office, not enough has been done to move the district forward.”
► Issues or concerns for district or city: Sustainable development; street paving and other infrastructure; public transit; creating a more “business-friendly” City Hall to foster entrepreneurs; and providing more resources to our communities. He also laments what he called “corruption and a lack of professionalism in our local politics.”
► WEB: vote4ryanjones.com