Birmingham voters go to polls today in municipal election

Citizens in Birmingham will go to the polls today to take part the city’s municipal election and choose their mayor, as well as the members of the City Council and School Board.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. through 7 p.m.

Mayor Randall Woodfin, seeking a second term, will cast his ballot at the Jefferson County Courthouse at 9 a.m., according to a news release from his campaign.

In 2017, Woodfin became the youngest man elected mayor of the city since the 1890s when he defeated incumbent William A. Bell Sr. 

Woodfin faced a tumultuous first term in which he and other city officials were forced to cope with the devastating health and economic impacts of COVID-19.

The mayor even survived his own bout with COVID-19 in January.

He now faces seven challengers, including Bell; Lashunda Scales, a member of the Jefferson County Commission who formerly served on the Birmingham City Council; and contractor Chris Woods.

For more about the mayoral race from Iron City Ink, click here.

Eight of the nine seats on the City Council will be decided today. In District 1, incumbent Clinton Woods is unopposed. 

The longest serving council member, Valerie Abbott, faces three challengers in her bid for another term serving District 3. Abbott has served on the council since 2001.

One familiar face is missing from the ballot. Councilor Steven Hoyt, who represents District 8, is not running for reelection. He has served on the council since 2005.

Voters will also choose candidates for all nine seats on Birmingham City Schools Board of Education.

The only seat not contested is in District 7, where Walter Wilson is unopposed. Wilson is a radio talk show host with WJLD 94.5 FM and 1400 AM who won a special election in January.

For more about the School Board races from Iron City Ink, click here.

To see our complete Voter Guide, click here.

To see a sample ballot, click here.

The runoff election, if necessary, will be Tuesday, Oct. 5.