Meet your candidates: District 7 city council election
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TITUS BATTLE
► Neighborhood: A Brooklyn, New York., native, Battle lives in Oakwood.
► Education: Miles College (B.S. in child development education), currently a psychology graduate student.
► Profession: Private tutor; founder and chair of The Promise to Children Foundation.
► QUALIFICATIONS: “I have a plan that provides jobs for the unemployed and unemployable, creates academic opportunities for the under-educated population of District 7 and develops a clean, safe and family-friendly district.”
► How do you distinguish yourself from the incumbent? “My campaign is not at odds with the current representative, but each leader has a different approach to meet the needs of the community. I am simply offering an option.”
► Issues or concerns for district or city: “I simply want to work through the government to provide resources for all the people of District 7, as is seen in other recently developed districts in Birmingham.”
► WEB: facebook.com/makeadifferencevotefortitus
HOSEA LEWIS
► Neighborhood: A Birmingham native, Lewis lives in Hillman area. He has served as vice president of the Hillman Neighborhood Association and secretary of the Grasselli Community Association.
► Education: Alabama A&M University (B.A. in sociology)
► Profession: Owner of Lewis Industries Management Group
► QUALIFICATIONS: “It's time for change, and the time is now. I will lobby for new investment opportunities in District 7 by reaching out to retail and community developers.”
► How do you distinguish yourself from the incumbent? No response given.
► Issues or concerns for district or city: For the district: crime; potholes; a lack of retail and grocery stores; removal of blighted properties; and new home construction. For the city: “We must all be on the same page with the same goal in mind to make Birmingham great.”
► WEB: facebook.com/hosea.e.lewis
LONNIE MALONE
► Neighborhood: A Gadsden native, Malone lives in Sand Ridge.
► Education: West Coast Bible College (master’s degree in religious education); Herzing University (bachelor’s degrees in computer information systems and technical management)
► Profession: Information technology engineer
► QUALIFICATIONS: “I think each of the candidates in District 7 can be equally suited for the open seat.”
► How do you distinguish yourself from the incumbent? “I will distinguish myself by simply being Lonnie Malone — a councilman who will be involved, have a listening ear and have a working spirit for the people.”
► Issues or concerns for district or city: Issues in the district include crime, education, economic growth and support for small businesses. For the city, Lewis said, “We need new growth as far as new homes being built to bring our youth back to the city, new businesses and rebuilding our school system.”
► WEB: facebook.com/LonnieMalonedistrict7citycouncil
JAY ROBERSON (I)
► Neighborhood: A Birmingham native, Roberson lives in Oxmoor Valley.
► Education: Alabama A&M (bachelor’s in communications)
► Profession: Sports marketing and athletics administration. He started a consulting company, Top Ten Management, in 2003.
► QUALIFICATIONS: “I have the vision and experience to make local government work for the best interest of the people. I have proven that I can work with my constituency, the private sector and all levels of government.”
► Accomplishments in current term: “We have seen $150 million of new development and job creation.” He cites such projects as a $30 million Student Success Center at Lawson State, expansion of the Greater Shiloh Missionary Church and the 1,200-acre Red Mountain Park.
► Issues or concerns for district or city: For District 7: housing; economic development; youth recreation; park improvements; and more grocery options. Concerns for the city include crime; education; and small and minority business inclusion.
► WEB: Facebook: Councilman Jay Roberson
JEFFREY ROWSER
► Neighborhood: A District 7 native, Rowser lives in Powderly.
► Education: Wenonah High School graduate
► Profession: Served in U.S. Marine Corps, worked with U.S. Postal Service.
► QUALIFICATIONS: “I’m from the area. I’m well-known and well-liked … and I know what District 7 used to be when I was growing up and what it’s going to take to get back where it needs to be.”
► How do you distinguish yourself from the incumbent? “I’m more of a leader than the [incumbent] and have more visual presence [and] better communication skills with the community. I’ll be more available to meet as many needs as I can to make sure our community is back.”
► Issues or concerns for district or city: For District 7: a lack of grocery stores. He said he’ll work to get stores to move into the area, providing food, jobs and revenue.
► WEB: jeffrowserdeliveringchangefor7.com and Facebook.com/jeffreyrowserfor7