Meet your candidates: District 5 city council election
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JOHNATHAN AUSTIN (I)
► Neighborhood: Austin, who is council president, is a Birmingham native and lives in Crestwood North.
► Education: Miles College (B.S. in management), presently attending Cumberland School of Law at Samford University.
► Profession: Owned consulting and training companies; worked as a technology consultant; consulted with business start-ups.
► QUALIFICATIONS: “My experience and knowledge of how City Hall operates is necessary in order to keep [Birmingham] moving in the right direction and ensure that the success we’ve enjoyed downtown continues and bleeds over into all of our neighborhoods.”
► Accomplishments in current term: “Under my leadership, the council brought Uber and Lyft to Birmingham, passed an ordinance to allow food trucks in the city and created a Healthy Food Incentive program.” Austin also cited the “unprecedented growth and development in downtown.”
► Issues or concerns for district or city: “Taking care of our neighborhoods will continue to be my top priority. We have to move from simply tearing down abandoned homes and cutting lots to bringing new residents into our communities as homeowners. We will continue to make sure we fund public safety and support community policing programs.”
► WEB: facebook.com/johnathanfaustin
DOROTHEA CROSBY
► Neighborhood: Crosby grew up in Fountain Heights and now lives in Crestwood North.
► Education: Graduate of Parker High School, attended the Southern Junior College of Business.
► Profession: Retired; volunteer with Birmingham City Schools pre- K program, Children’s Village and Habitat for Humanity. Served as campaign manager and judicial assistant for District Court Judge Katrina Ross.
► QUALIFICATIONS: “I’m an ordinary citizen ready to do extraordinary things on behalf of District 5. And I know the problems the district is faced with, because I have those same issues. Now is the time that I — we — do something about it.”
► How do you distinguish yourself from the incumbent? “I commend Councilor Austin and the rest of the council on the work they’ve done, but ... there are areas in need of improvement [including] community engagement and transparency.”
► Issues or concerns for district or city: “The main issues I plan to tackle in my first term are education, safer communities and affordable housing. I believe the first two issues work hand in hand.”
► WEB: facebook.com/electcrosbyfordistrct5
CHRIS DAVIS
► Neighborhood: Davis was born in Birmingham and lives in Smithfield.
► Education: Huffman High School, UAB (bachelor’s in political science), 2018 juris doctorate candidate from Birmingham School of Law
► Profession: Political campaign volunteer in District 5 since 2000; congressional staffer for Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings in 2007; Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign; Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian Fenty’s Executive Office on Community Relations.
► QUALIFICATIONS: “I'm running for City Council in District 5 because the bar for service is set too low. It's been so long since some of the neighborhoods have been properly serviced, average or below average service to the citizens has become the norm.”
► How do you distinguish yourself from the incumbent? “I believe in being out in the neighborhoods interacting with neighbors. I believe that an acute knowledge of neighborhood interests earned by being available is the most valuable information a representative can have.”
► Issues or concerns for district or city: “My main issues are neighborhood revitalization and beautification; transportation; and an increased intensity around small businesses.”
► WEB: Facebook.com/ChrisDavisforCityCouncil
DARRELL O’QUINN
► Neighborhood: O’Quinn moved to Birmingham 17 years ago and lives in Crestwood North.
► Education: LSU (Doctor or Veterinary Medicine), UAB (PhD. in pathology)
► Profession: Part-time veterinarian at UAB; also executive director of Move I-20/59 nonprofit.
► QUALIFICATIONS: “I have a long track record of service to the community” and “played a very active contributing role in the resurgence of Crestwood, now regarded as one of the city’s most desirable neighborhoods.”
► How do you distinguish yourself from the incumbent? “The constituents of District 5 want to regularly see and speak to their councilor face-to-face. When they call or email, they expect to get a response.”
► Issues or concerns for district or city: “One out of three people in the city is living in poverty. We need to provide the best possible service for their immediate needs. We have a marvelous, vibrant city whose food and entertainment are attracting nationwide attention. But too many of our people are shut out of the opportunities, unable to share in that success. ... City government is like a foreign entity that acts as if they don’t exist — leaving them out of decisions, keeping them in the dark and ignoring their needs.”
He calls for better education, transit and after-school programs to help them.
► WEB: Facebook.com/VoteDOQ
ERICA ROBBINS
► Neighborhood: The Munford native lives in Central City.
► Education: Graduate of Stillman College
► Profession: Worked in banking, is the founder of Be A Blessing Birmingham.
► QUALIFICATIONS: “My desire to help all the residents in my district, from those living in high rises to those living under bridges, is why I am most qualified.” Robbins said she has worked with all kinds and classes of people.
► How do you distinguish yourself from the incumbent? “Johnathan [Austin] has done some good things in District 5. However, good is not good enough. The growth downtown is amazing, but our homeless population and lower-income communities are still struggling.”
► Issues or concerns for district or city: “My concern for the city is that the growth and redevelopment has not been spread throughout the entire city. The crime rate in our city is directly connected to the poverty levels in certain parts of [the] city. The city is not transparent enough and does not keep the citizens involved in the process of all the major changes in the city.” She cited issues such as homelessness; economic growth; poverty; mental health; and education.
► WEB: Facebook.com/EricaRobbinsDistrict5
JEREMY SCHATZ
► Neighborhood: The long-time city resident lives in Crestwood North.
► Education: University of Alabama (degree in psychology); graduate of Birmingham School of Law.
► Profession: Attorney at the Patton Firm in Avondale.
► QUALIFICATIONS: “Being a practicing attorney allows me not to be reliant on a city salary or be beholden to donors. My decisions will be what’s best for the people and businesses of District 5, along with the city of Birmingham as a whole. I can deal with the complex issues that regularly arise in city government.”
► How do you distinguish yourself from the incumbent? “We need fresh ideas, a councilor who is transparent and accountable, one that doesn’t vote for massive salary increases for themselves while our city has a 30 percent poverty rate, one who’s a voice for every person of the fifth district all the time, not just when it’s time to campaign.”
► Issues or concerns for district or city: “The current council has created a divide within the city government that has begun to cripple Birmingham’s potential and let down those living within our city.” He added issues such as job growth/unemployment/poverty; abandoned properties and crumbling infrastructure; regional cooperation.
► WEB: votejeremy.com
ROBERT WALKER
► Neighborhood: A Birmingham native, Walker lives in Wahouma.
► Education: Graduate of West End High School; Southern Institute (associate degree in paralegal studies); four-year apprenticeship with Sheet Metal Local No. 48
► Profession: Retired from the sheet metal industry after 34 years.
► QUALIFICATIONS: Walker said he’s been active in neighborhood associations since 1985 and is vice president of the Wahouma Neighborhood Association. Walker said he’s enjoyed being a community activist and has learned about the “limitations and capacities” of city government.
► How do you distinguish yourself from the incumbent? “I’m a hands-on guy. I enjoy talking with people and creating workable solutions with them. I will dedicate more time to the office because I’m retired.”
► Issues or concerns for district or city: “The main issue is help provide a safe and clean Birmingham. This can be done by strengthening our city ordinances and working professionally with the mayor to see that they are enforced.” He also said his main concern is to keep citizens informed. “Transparency of the city's day-to-day operations is a must.”
► WEB: robertwalker4district5.com