Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin endorses local candidates
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has been busy the past few days making endorsements in local races ahead of Tuesday’s election. Woodfin first took to social media on Saturday where he endorsed Danny Carr for Jefferson County District Attorney. On Sunday he endorsed Felicia Stewart for State House District 46 as well as Mark Pettway for Jefferson County Sheriff. He continued his endorsements Monday morning adding Alli Summerford for State House District 48 to his endorsements list. All of the candidates Woodfin has endorsed are Democrats. Woodfin’s local endorsements thus far: Alli Summerford “Alli’s vision for Alabama is one that so many of us share: well-paying jobs, a 21st century education system, affordable healthcare, and an economy and state government that works for all of us, not just some of us. I am proud to endorse Alli for Alabama!,” Woodfin posted on Facebook. Mark Pettway “Mark Pettway’s focus on community policing and criminal justice reform will help to bring fresh ideas, transparency, and accountability to the Jefferson County Sheriff Office. I am proud to support Mark Pettway For Sheriff!” said Woodfin on Facebook Felicia Stewart “Felicia Stewart is a true public servant who expects more for our state and will work to solve real problems in public education, healthcare, clean water and other critical issues facing every day Alabamians. VOTE Felicia Stewart this Tuesday! #ExpectMore,” Woodfin posted on Facebook. Danny Carr Woodfin posted on Facebook, “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Danny Carr for many years. You will be hard pressed to find a man that works as hard and cares about the people of our community as much as Danny Carr. His unwavering commitment to the people of Jefferson County over his 17 years of service has been highlighted through his work in the courtroom and his civic participation throughout our community. I am proud to endorse Danny Carr for Jefferson County DA.”
3 Alabama women catch the attention of Good Morning America as they run for office
In the suburbs of the Magic City, three Alabama women who joined forces in hopes of finding their way Election Day victory, have caught the attention of Good Morning America (GMA). In its ongoing series about “Women Who Run,” GMA on Wednesday featured the trio: Felicia Stewart, candidate for House District 46, Alli Summerford, candidate for House District 48 and Jenn Gray, candidate for House District 45. All moms and first time candidates, the women have formed a “sisterhood” as they’ve joined forces in support of one another in their efforts to unseat male opponents “who, in some cases, haven’t faced opposition in decades.” “Nobody can truly understand the internal part of this piece better than the other candidates and specifically the other female candidates and especially those who are moms,” Stewart told GMA. “Alli [Summerford] has been a terrific source of encouragement and sounding board and strategy partner.” “It’s very encouraging to have a cohort that you can connect to and have as a sounding board,” Gray explained to GMA. “It’s about this coalition of women who are running and who really have each other’s backs, just pulling each other up.” “We need to all win,” she added, of the women running in 2018. “It’s not enough for me if one of us wins.” Summerford, Stewart and Gray are among 60 women running for office in Alabama this year. Watch the GMA feature below:
Get to know: Alli Summerford, candidate for Alabama House District 48
First time candidate Alli Summerford is the sole Democrat running for House District 48, a seat that includes parts of Birmingham, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills. While her Republican opponent has yet to be determined — she will face either incumbent Birmingham-Republican Jim Carns or Republican candidate William Wentowski following the June 5 primary — Summerford is the first Democratic candidate for District 48 in over a decade With a little over three months until voters head to the ballots, AlabamaToday.com is inviting all candidates running for office in Alabama this year, to complete a questionnaire we believe offers an interesting, albeit, thumbnail sketch of who they are and why they are running. If you are a candidate and would like to complete the questionnaire, email Elizabeth@ALToday.com. Here Summerford is in her own words: Significant other? How long married? Kids? I’m not married. My son, Gram, is a junior at Mountain Brook High School, where he is a nationally ranked runner. Education background? Professional background? I attended college at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (a detail I hope you will not hold against me!), where I graduated as valedictorian with a BA in Business Administration and an MBA in New Venture Analysis. What was your first job before college/adulthood and after? My first job was in a shoe store in the mall when I was 15. It was one of those old-fashioned stores where the employees actually put the shoes on the customers’ feet. After college and business school, I had a successful career as a broker in the Memphis commercial real estate firm Trammell Crow.After that, I founded a national web design company, dandelion marketing, that I have run for almost 20 years. I also share my expertise in visual identity and search engine optimization as a consultant and speaker. Along the way, I created a popular website about the ‘80s as a hobby, which I sold to an investor in 2016. In 25 words or less, why are you running for office? Alabama is 49th in everything but football, and we can do better, starting with bringing some new faces and voices into the state house. Did you speak with anybody in your political party before deciding on running? Receive any encouragement? From whom? I spoke with several people, but the thing that encouraged me most was when I attended a speech during Doug Jones’s campaign where he issued a call for decency and common sense, and I left with tears in my eyes. I had never even considered running for office before, but I realized that we are complacent at our peril, and we cannot trust other people to take care of things. Who do you count on for advice besides significant other or clergy? I look to my parents and friends for advice; I am blessed to have a great support system of amazing people I trust. Who is your political consultant? Campaign manager? My campaign manager is Tamara Sansbury, who has been my close friend for almost 20 years. She is also new to politics. Who was the first person to contribute to your campaign? Why did they donate? My first donation came from an old friend and fellow single mom, whose oldest son and my son have been friends since they were little. She and I have some shared experiences, and she was so excited about my taking this leap. Who, if anyone, inspires you in state government? I’m inspired by Anthony Daniels, who is the minority leader in the state house. He shares my passionate commitment to improving healthcare and education in this state. Why do people mistrust elected officials and what are you going to do about it? People mistrust elected officials in Alabama because they have elevated special interests over the people’s interests, through lax campaign finance laws, a long history of cronyism, and a lack of transparency in Montgomery. I’m committed to a legislative agenda that puts the people first by ensuring fair elections and enacting and enforcing tough ethical standards and strong campaign finance laws. What are 3 specific policy positions that you’re running on? (Please don’t simply say “education” or “improving the schools”) First, I don’t believe that the state legislature should tell the people of Mountain Brook how much money they can spend on education, just as I don’t believe that the state legislature should tell Birmingham what its minimum wage should be. It’s time to reform the constitution to empower the people closest to a problem to fix it themselves.Second, my small business builds websites and advises other businesses on internet marketing. Neither of those fields existed when I graduated from high school. We owe it to our children to make sure that they are prepared to adapt to a future that looks a lot different than it looks today. I want to improve teacher compensation so that we attract and retain first-class teachers that are equipped to teach our children.Third, Alabama is one of the unhealthiest states in the nation despite the fact that we are home to some of the leading health institutions in the world. We should expand access to those institutions by expanding Medicaid. The federal government is offering to give us $100 for every $5 we spend on Medicaid. As a small business owner, I know a good deal when I see one, and that is an extremely good deal. What is a “disruptive” issue (i.e. ride-sharing) you are interested in? I’m very interested in solar power and its ability to provide a long-term source of clean, renewable energy. Alabama law discourages the use of solar power, and that needs to change. Name one current state law you would want repealed? I want to repeal the Alabama Uniform Minimum Wage and Right-to-Work Act, which concentrates the power to regulate relationships between workers and their employers in Montgomery, rather than allowing local governments to take the steps they deem necessary. Montgomery has too much power and has wielded it too unwisely. Who was the best governor in Alabama’s modern history? Alabama’s political history is filled with what-ifs, and there are several moments that are inspirational to me, where Alabama could
Alli Summerford announces candidacy for Alabama House District 48
Alli Summerford on Thursday announced the official launch of her campaign to represent District 48 in the Alabama House of Representatives. “I’m excited to offer a new choice to the people of District 48,” stated Summerford. “Alabama cannot have strong communities and a robust, growing economy without first having healthy and well-educated citizens. Any investment we make in the health and education of Alabamians will give us a full return, many times over. When its people thrive, Alabama thrives.” This being the first time she’s run for public office, Summerford is a new face in the field of candidates. She is also the first Democratic candidate for District 48 in over a decade. “While my first priority will be to represent the interests of District 48 in Montgomery, I am also committed to issues that help Alabamians to be their best: improved education, expanded access to healthcare, safer communities, better roads, and loosened restrictions on local government,” added Summerford. Summerford was a successful broker for Trammell Crow, a commercial real estate firm in Memphis, Tenn. She is also the founder and operator of Dandelion Marketing, a web design company that has been in operation for 20 years. She earned a BA in Business Administration and an MBA in New Venture Analysis from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, “a detail she hopes you will not hold against her.” The 48th District is comprised of portions of Jefferson and Shelby County and includes the cities of Mountain Brook, Hoover, and Vestavia Hills. As the only democratic candidate in the race, in the Nov. general election Summerford will face off against either incumbent Birmingham-Republican Jim Carns or Republican candidate William Wentowski following the June 5 primary. Summerford resides in Mountain Brook, Ala. with her son, Gram. She is a prominent member of the community, supporting the Emmet O’Neal Library’s children’s department as a member of the Women’s Committee, and as a founding member of the Mountain Brook Track Club booster group.
