Randall Woodfin wins Birmingham mayoral runoff, defeats William Bell

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Randall Woodfin acceptance
Randall Woodfin's acceptance speech, Tues. Oct. 3, 2017.

Step aside William Bell, there’s a new mayor in town.

On Tuesday, progressive challenger Randall Woodfin handily bested Bimingham’s seven-year incumbent mayor, Bell, in the city’s contentious runoff mayoral race.

Randall Woodfin acceptance speech
Randall Woodfin acceptance speech at Haven in Lakeview, Tues. Oct. 3, 2017.

Woodfin — a city attorney and member of the Birmingham Board of Education — took home 24,910 votes, 58 percent, over Bell’s 17,353, 41 percent.

Bell, who has held a public office in Birmingham longer than Woodfin has even been alive — 40 years — conceded the race around 10 p.m.

“Birmingham, this is our moment,” Woodfin told a roaring crowd during his acceptance speech at Haven in Lakeview. “For the last year and six weeks we have been on a journey, not for what’s in my interest, but for what’s in our interest. This is a ‘we, us and our’ moment. Our city, our 23 communities, our 99 neighborhoods, you all have spoken very clearly. We deserved better.”

Woodfin, who campaigned on a platform revitalizing the city’s neighborhoods, fighting crime and restoring trust in the city’s government, will take office on Nov. 28. At 36 he will officially become Birmingham’s youngest mayor in over 120 years.