Mayors of Birmingham, Mobile win re-election
The mayors of two of Alabama’s largest cities have won re-election by wide margins. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin outdistanced seven other candidates in balloting Tuesday to win a second four-year term with about 64% of the vote. The challengers included his predecessor as mayor, William Bell, and a Jefferson County commissioner, Lashunda Scales, who finished second. “You told us to invest in your neighborhoods and we did,” Woodfin told supporters after the votes were counted. “You told us to pave your streets and we did. …You told us to invest in the youngest generation and we did.” Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson won a third term by carrying 62% of the vote against two challengers who included a City Council member, Fred Richardson. Stimpson said he would concentrate on projects including the relocation of the city’s passenger airport to a site near downtown over the next four years. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Randall Woodfin in national spotlight for spectacular failure in crime reduction
Mayor Randall Woodfin ran his campaign in 2017 on the notion that he had the answers that could solve the issues of gun violence and crime in Birmingham. The young attorney promised that he would ensure public safety, fight for criminal justice reform and racial justice, and hold police accountable. He believed the root cause of violence and crime was disinvestment in low-income communities and persistent, generational poverty. However, many activist groups who supported Woodfin and his vision are now looking to elect a new mayor, hoping that they can do what he has been unable to: solve the issue of violent crime in Birmingham. In Birmingham, murders have increased 5 percent in the city in 2021, and 2020 was the deadliest since 1995. So far in 2021, the city has recorded 65 criminal homicides, putting it on pace to surpass last year’s record, and most victims are young, Black men. In a detailed article, Slate reported on how Birmingham’s crime rate has risen even while Woodfin has tried to attack this issue from all sides. Woodfin argues that simply making arrests doesn’t solve the problem. During his time in office, he has helped establish many alternatives to simply policing and arresting criminals. He established the Mayor’s Office of Peace and Policy to target recidivism among Black men through social support and group therapy. The next year, he launched the Birmingham Promise Initiative, which gave students paid internships and covered the cost of their higher education. Many young progressives assume that all Black people want a smaller police force. But in Birmingham and many cities, that’s not the case. Woodfin has said that most of his constituents want more patrols, especially older people. Many still see police as the main way to combat violence. National surveys show that younger people are more likely to support defunding the police. “When I talk to the mommas and the big mommas in the neighborhoods, they want more police,” he said in 2018. “People my age and younger say more policing is wrong. As mayor, I’m in the middle.” Woodfin faces three main challengers in this election, and all of them are positioning themselves to be more “pro-police” than Woodfin himself. Mayor William Bell, businessman Chris Woods, and Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales are critical of how Woodfin has handled crime, saying he’s missed the mark. “People want to box me in and make me choose between reform and accountability measures, and policing and keeping the city safe,” Woodfin said in a June interview. “No, I reject your ultimatum. I can walk and chew gum at the same time. We can do both.” As the election draws near, Woodfin, activist groups, and previous Woodfin supporters continue to roll out new initiatives and ideas to address this complex problem. In April, Woodfin created the city’s first Civilian Review Board to investigate complaints of police misconduct. He pardoned 15,000 people for past misdemeanor marijuana convictions. In July, Woodfin banned the use of no-knock search warrants. Some groups have called for Woodfin to use American Rescue Plan money to help the issue. Many have pushed to fund alternative public safety strategies because they believe that relying primarily on law enforcement doesn’t work, and even that gets support from some law enforcement officials. Gregory Clarke argues that police are not the answer. “I’m not saying they don’t do their job—they do their job of responding to crime,” said Clarke, the founder of Birmingham Peacemakers and a leader of the local Fund Peace campaign. “The police had their budget increased. But the effect on crime didn’t match. Matter of fact, it went up.” Many groups who supported him in his last election have put their support behind other candidates. In January, the Birmingham chapter of Our Revolution publicly rescinded its endorsement. The local Black Lives Matter chapter called for his resignation after police shot and killed a 28-year-old Black man named Desmon Montez Ray Jr. “This family has been demanding that the leadership of this community, Mayor Randall Woodfin, council members, the police chief, anybody in leadership should have come to this family to offer their condolences,’’ BLM Birmingham co-founder Eric Hall stated. “That’s the right thing to do. That’s what leadership is.” “Birmingham voters believed that any work initiated by Mayor Woodfin to deter crime and violence would center root-cause analysis and comprehensive grassroots and community-based solutions,” several Black Lives Matter leaders wrote in an open letter at the time. “This is why it was a hard pill to swallow.” “I am sick and tired of people talking negative about our city,” City Councilor Crystal Smitherman said at a July summit in support of the Fund Peace campaign. “It’s time for the communities to step up and take charge of our neighborhoods.”
Steve Flowers: Politics never ends in Alabama
We are all looking forward to next year’s gigantic political cavalcade. The 2022 elections in Alabama will be momentous. We will have an open U.S. Senate seat along with seven congressional seats, all running under new district lines. We have a Governor’s race along with all the other Constitutional offices. All 105 state representatives and 35 state senators will be running for reelection under new district lines. All 67 sheriffs in the state will be on the ballot, as well as all 68 probate judges. All these races are on the cusp of beginning or have already begun. However, we will have a mayor’s race in Birmingham this summer. The August 24 mayoral race in the magic city is shaping up as a Donnybrook. It is shaping up to be a rematch from four years ago between former mayor William Bell and current mayor Randall Woodfin. Four years ago, young Randall Woodfin defeated then mayor William Bell, the old fashion way. He outworked him. Woodfin went door-to-door in one-on-one campaigning in every precinct in Birmingham. He appears to have done a good job as mayor. He will be tough to beat. However, if anyone would do it, William Bell would be the one. He looks very distinguished and mayoral. In fact, I have often thought that if Hollywood were scripting a movie of a mayor of a city like the movie “Boss” with Kelsey Grammar, who played a Chicago mayor, that Bell would be the perfect actor. There are at least two other significant candidates vying to be Birmingham’s mayor, LaShunda Scales and Chris Wood, which may place Bell and Woodfin into a runoff. We have already had several special legislative elections throughout the state this year. Former Alabama House Member, April Weaver, won the Republican State Senate Primary for Senate District 14 on March 30. This senate seat was vacated when Cam Ward departed the Senate to become Director of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. The district encompasses a good portion of Shelby County and all of Bibb and Chilton. It is a very Republican district. Therefore, Ms. Weaver’s victory is tantamount to election. She will face a token Democrat in the July 13 general election. Her triumph was extremely impressive. She garnered 82% of the vote against two opponents. She will be an effective senator for Central Alabama. In an open state House seat in Shelby County, U.S. Army Veteran Kenneth Paschal won the GOP Primary for House District 73, winning the Republican primary for a State Legislative district in a special election in Shelby County. Paschal won a close race over Leigh Hulsey, 51% to 49%. There is a special election for state House District 78 in Montgomery to fill the seat being left vacant with Kirk Hatcher moved up from the House to the Senate. There are several low-profile constitutional offices beginning to percolate for 2022. State Representative, Wes Allen, has announced and is running hard for Secretary of State. He is perfectly suited and qualified for that office. He is in his first term as a State Representative from Pike and Dale Counties. However, prior to that, he served 10 years as Probate Judge of Pike County, where he successfully oversaw elections. Wes is a native of Tuscaloosa, where his daddy serves as a State Senator. A successful Birmingham businesswoman, Laura Johnston Clark, is eyeing the State Auditor’s race. She was born and raised in Dothan and began her business there. She has deep and extensive family roots in the Wiregrass. Her father and mother and older brother are legendary and revered. She has been extensively involved civically in Birmingham for close to two decades. She is an integral part of next year’s World Games, which will be held in Birmingham. The current occupants of the Secretary of State and State Auditor’s offices, John Merrill and Jim Ziegler, are term-limited. So, these two offices are wide open. 2022 is going to be an exciting election year. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His column appears in over 60 Alabama Newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislative. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Former Birmingham Mayor William Bell cited for ethics violation
Former Birmingham Mayor William Bell was charged with violating state ethics laws by the Alabama Ethics Commission on Wednesday. Although the details of the violation were not disclosed by the commission, Bell’s attorney Joe Espy said the accusation was in relation to a mandatory meeting Bell held during his re-election campaign last August. Iva Williams, who originally filed the complaint in September accused Bell of violating state law by using city facilities and his office for political activities, and for using his official position for personal gain. Bell held a mandatory meeting in August warning city employees that if his opponent Randall Woodfin won, many of them might lose their jobs. An audio recording of the meeting was released following the ethics complaint. “The political survival of my administration is at stake,” Bell said according to AL.com. “And if you think that is just about William Bell, no it is about everyone in this room. It is about each of us in this room. Because I guarantee you while some may survive, the vast majority of you will not. OK. I’m not trying to put fear I’m just trying to tell you the realities of the situation.” On Wednesday the Alabama Ethics Commission ruled that the complaint be handled administratively referring the case to Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. “Mayor Bell completely cooperated with the ethics commission and the ethics commission staff,” Espy told AL.com. “It was a very minor technical matter related to that complaint made during the campaign about that meeting. It was resolved administratively. It is concluded,” Although the issue is being resolved, Bell could face a fine.
Five things you need to know about Steve Marshall
Last week, Steve Marshall beat Troy King in the runoff election for the republican Attorney General’s seat. Winning with just over 62 percent of the votes, Marshall now faces Democratic challenger Joseph Siegelman in the November general election. With that in mind, here are five things you need to know about Steve Marshall: 1. Although he moved around a lot in childhood, Marshall has always considered Alabama his true home. Although Marshall was born in Atmore, Ala. his father, Conrad Marshall, was a representative for a sporting goods manufacturer and moved the family across the southeast for most of Marshall’s childhood. They lived in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, where he graduated from high school. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with his bachelors degree, Marshall moved back to Alabama to attend the University of Alabama’s law school, and stayed. “Despite leaving Alabama in first grade and living in several Southern states, Steve knew the Yellowhammer State was his home. He always knew he’d move back,” said the National Association of Attorney’s General (NAAG). 2. When sworn in as the Marshall County District Attorney (DA), Marshall became the second youngest DA in Alabama. In 2001 Marshall was appointed as the District Attorney of Marshall County. At only 36 years old his swearing in made him the second youngest District Attorney in Alabama. As District Attorney, Marshall founded several criminal prosecution and forensic programs and task forces including the Marshall County Major Crimes Unit, Marshall County Computer Forensics Lab and the Marshall County Crystal Meth Task Force. He was also instrumental in instituting and applying the Brody Act. The act holds anyone who kills or injures a mother’s unborn baby as accountable for two crimes, one against the mother and one against the baby. Marshall was one of the first DA’s to apply this law in his district. 3. As Attorney General, he filed a lawsuit against the city of Birmingham over the controversial confederate monument. In August of 2017, then-Birmingham Mayor William Bell ordered a confederate monument at the city’s Linn Park to be covered while the city explored the legality of removing it completely. “We need to take them down. We will deal with the repercussions after that,” said Birmingham City Council President Jonathan Austin. “The monuments are ‘offensive to our citizens,’” AL.com reported. Marshall quickly jumped into action. The next day the Attorney General filed a lawsuit against the city, and Mayor William Bell, saying that covering the monument violated state law. “In accordance with the law, my office has determined that by affixing tarps and placing plywood around the Linn Park memorial such that it is hidden from view, the defendants have ‘altered’ or ‘otherwise disturbed’ the memorial in violation of the letter and spirit of the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act,” Marshall said, according to AL.com. “The city of Birmingham does not have the right to violate the law and leaves my office with no choice but to file suit.” 4. He is the founder of Mentor Marshall, a mentorship program in Marshall County Marshall served as chairman of the Big Buddy Program while attending the University of North Carolina. The program, a student-led mentorship program affiliated with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America, allowed Marshall to see the effect mentorship can have on young people’s lives. This led him to found Mentor Marshall, a mentoring program designed to impact young people in Marshall county. The program aims to find positive, successful adults and introduce them to at-risk children. The adults then serve mentors and role models to the children to keep them in school, drug-free, and to give them hope and tools to achieve their own goals. Marshall has also been mentoring two young men himself. 5. He is an elder at his church and traveled to India on a missions trip a few years ago Marshall is an elder at the LifePoint Church in Albertville, Ala. and traveled across the world on a missions trip a few years ago. There, his goal was to spread the gospel news of Jesus Christ to people who lived in remote villages in India. “The Great Commission sort of directs us all in some way to be able to make that outreach to those that don’t know Christ, to be able to share,” Marshall said of the mission, according to NAAG. This post was updated from its original version to reflect the runoff election victory.
Randall Woodfin sworn-in as Birmingham’s 30th mayor
It was a picture-perfect day on Tuesday as Randall Woodfin, 36, was sworn into office as the 30th mayor of the City of Birmingham, Ala. by Judge Nakita Blocton making him the city’s youngest mayor in modern history. Woodfin took the oath of office before thousands of onlookers in downtown Birmingham’s Linn Park where there was not a cloud in the sky. With a giant American flag backdrop, Woodfin was flanked by banners which, according to the Birmingham Times., listed the names of all 99 neighborhoods in the city. “I am so honored for this moment. It is hard to put this moment into words as relates to this opportunity to serve my hometown,” Woodfin told the crowd. “I am so proud and so eager to get to work.” He continued, “ this is not my inauguration. This is our inauguration. What stands behind us is not just a building, it’s not just city hall, but it’s a symbol that reflects the voice of the people of all 23 communities and all 99 neighborhoods.” Woodfin’s October victory On Oct. 3, Woodfin handily bested Birmingham’s seven-year incumbent mayor, William Bell, in the city’s contentious runoff mayoral race. 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. Woodfin’s team Two weeks ahead of his inauguration, Woodfin announced the six members of his executive leadership team during a press conference at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. “I could not be more proud of the team we are putting together to help transform our city,” Woodfin said. “Each of these men and women are true public servants. They reflect my core beliefs in integrity, efficiency and concern for each resident of Birmingham. We look forward to continuing to complete our executive team as well as department heads as we near the administration beginning in two weeks.” His executive team includes: Cedric Sparks: chief of staff. He is a longtime leader of Birmingham’s Division of Youth Services dating back to 2002. He is a graduate of West End High School, the University of Alabama and Miles Law School. Kevin Moore: chief operating officer. He has worked for the city of Birmingham for 22 years, most recently as director of the Birmingham Parks and Recreation Department. He has also served as the director of the Birmingham CrossPlex. Moore is a 1992 graduate of Samford University. Ed Fields: senior advisor and chief strategist. He led Woodfin’s campaign for mayor and has a long history as a local businessman and civic activist. He received his undergraduate degree in business Administration from Alabama State University and his MBA from University of Alabama’s Manderson School of Business. Kelvin Datcher: director of intergovernmental affairs. He previously served as director of investor relations at REV Birmingham. He is a graduate of Gettysburg College and previously worked at Southern Poverty Law Center, Alabama State University and for the Birmingham City Council. He has been active in economic development initiatives for the City of Birmingham. Nicole King: city attorney. She began her legal career with the city of Birmingham Law Department in 2006. A native of Birmingham and graduate of Ramsay High School, King is also a University of Alabama and Texas Southern University Law School graduate. She has successfully handled cases before the Alabama Supreme Court, Alabama Court of Civil Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. Sylvia Bowen: executive administrator. She has worked as the Birmingham City Council District 8 chief of staff and served as executive assistant to the dean of academic affairs and as an instructor at Lawson State Community College. She is a graduate of Tuskegee University and holds an MBA from Johnson and Wales University. Watch Woodfin’s inauguration ceremony below:
Steve Flowers: Birmingham election recap and the impact of Pat Dye
There have been quite a few political happenings in the Heart of Dixie during October. Birmingham has elected a new mayor. 36-year-old Randall Woodfin defeated two-term mayor William Bell. I never got to know Bell that well; however, the few times I visited with him he seemed to be an affable fellow. He surely looked like a mayor. His distinguished demeanor and exquisite diction and appearance gave an elegant impression for Birmingham. He looked like he came out of Hollywood central casting. Woodfin beat Bell the old-fashioned way. He went door-to-door with shoe leather and diligence. He met most of Birmingham’s voters one-on-one and it paid off. He beat Bell convincingly, 58 to 41. At 36 Woodfin will be the youngest Birmingham mayor in modern history. In addition to changing mayors, Birmingham voters also ousted two longtime city council leaders, Johnathan Austin and Kim Rafferty. Austin was City Council President. Alabama State University did a good days work when they selected State Senator Quinton Ross as their new president. Senator Ross is a gentleman of impeccable character and ability. Ross has served 15-years in the Alabama Senate with distinction. He is very well respected among his colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Even though being in the Democratic minority in the Senate, he has been able to work with the Republican majority to get an immense amount of things accomplished for his Montgomery district. His legislative and governmental experience will be invaluable in unlocking fundraising doors for the university. Quinton Ross is an educator by profession with undergraduate and graduate degrees from his beloved Alabama State. He grew up in Montgomery, went to public schools and then continued his education degrees in his hometown. He is only 48-years old. He can build quite a legacy at Alabama State. He has the proper pedigree and love for his alma mater to make his tenure special. The legendary coach, Pat Dye, worked diligently on behalf of Roy Moore in the U.S. Senate race. It did not hurt Moore any. Coach Dye is an icon in Alabama. He is a man’s man. I love to visit with him. Even though he grew up on a farm in Georgia, he is a true Alabamian through and through. He reminds me some of our great folksy senator, Howell Heflin. Heflin was a true Alabamian. However, his daddy was a Methodist minister. As you may know, Methodist ministers are moved often. His daddy was serving a stint in Georgia when Heflin was born. Judge Heflin was always a little embarrassed by this fact being as he was a U.S. Senator from Alabama. He would often say that his daddy was doing missionary work among the heathen. Pat Dye grew up in Georgia and was an All American guard for the University of Georgia Bulldogs. He became a coach for Bear Bryant 45 years ago. He became Bryant’s most renowned recruiter. He was the mainstay of Bryant’s last decade. His recruiting was relentless. He learned every corner of the state. When Alabama took the field for the national championship game against Notre Dame in 1973, 24 of the 72 players were signed by Dye. He went on to become one of Auburn’s greatest coaches. His decade at the helm was some of Auburn’s glory years. He enjoys his life on his magnificent farm in East Alabama. He spends most of his time on his land hunting and fishing. However, he has gotten riled up about the fact that Alabama is losing an immense amount of money to our neighboring states of Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee because the powers that be will not let Alabamians vote on a lottery. Those powers that be are the Indian/Las Vegas gambling interests that want to continue to buy control of certain political offices that will allow them to continue their monopoly. Our interim acting Attorney General, Steve Marshall, has shown his hand. Marshall, even though totally unknown, is running for a full term. The gambling interests have put their money on him. He has done their bidding and has filed suit against the Alabama owned casinos to allow his new bosses, the Indian gambling casinos, a monopoly. You will be able to follow the money in the AG race. You can bet your bottom dollar that Pat Dye will be against Marshall. The Indian Gambling syndicate needs to hedge their bet. Marshall will not win that race. Alabamians will know that the gambling syndicate backs this unknown charlatan and his claim to the office was that he was Robert Bentley’s appointee. See you next week ••• Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Randall Woodfin wins Birmingham mayoral runoff, defeats William Bell
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. 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.
With friends like Randall Woodfin the Birmingham workforce doesn’t need enemies
The run-off election for Birmingham mayor has been a brutal one. Alabama Today has covered stories on both candidates. Interestingly I’ve noticed a trend, when we or anyone covers or questions, Randall Woodfin, he and his supporters cry “fake news.” I’ve seen Woodfin supporters claim he’s the victim of media bias or “fake news” more often in the last month than Donald Trump has in his lifetime. What’s not “fake news” is Woodfin’s comments on Birmingham’s bid to land the second Amazon HQ. A project that could bring up to 50,000 jobs and spur infrastructure growth and investments in transit, education and housing prices. While mayors all around the region welcome Bell and the city of Birmingham’s efforts to attract Amazon, Woodfin is among the naysayers who believe the city shouldn’t even try for the project. According to AL.Com Woodfin said: “Greater Birmingham has experienced zero job growth since 2000 and 30 percent of our population is living in poverty,” he said in a statement. “Rather than propose a comprehensive economic development strategy, William Bell is delivering textbook election-year politics. Impulsively chasing projects as they come is not strategy. “Birmingham has not made the adequate investments in public safety, workforce development, or public transportation over the course of Bell’s seven year tenure to give us a real chance at landing a company like Amazon. This is not leadership, just the typical grandstanding from Bell.” First, Woodfin is wrong about the job growth. Something he should know and shouldn’t spread false information about. According to an article by the Birmingham Business Journal, “The Birmingham economy continues to improve steadily, but still has room to improve.” They cite an analysis by Porter White & Co. investment banker Michael Stone. According to the BBJ, “Stone looked at five key economic factors to gauge the health of the local economy: total employment, retail sales, occupational tax, electricity sales and airline boardings.” The city saw a 1.1 percent increase in total employment as of June 30, 5.3 percent growth in retail sales, 3 percent growth in occupational tax, 1.4 percent growth in airline boarding and a decrease in electricity sales of 4.8 percent. Despite seeing growth four of the five categories, Stone said the Birmingham metro has still not quite recovered from the Great Recession as measured by number of persons employed pre- and post-recession. He goes on to say, Porter White‘s analysis shows Birmingham is being outpaced by several Southern metros, including Austin, Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh, Nashville and Huntsville. “Growth in jobs is the most important economic indicator,” Stone said in his Birmingham Area Economic Report. “Job growth leads to increased family income, in-migration of population, larger tax revenues without increasing tax rates, and economic well being. Preferably new jobs are well paid, in stable industries, and generated by businesses with good and stable market position.” Birmingham’s retail performance offers a brighter outlook. “Retail sales are important in Alabama as a sign of economic activity and an important source of governmental revenue from sales taxes,” he said. “For the recent 12 month period, Alabama, as well as Jefferson County and Birmingham MSA, have outpaced the rate of growth of the U.S., using personal consumption of durable and non-durable goods (omitting personal services) as the analog for U.S. sales.” On top of the misstatement on Birmingham’s economy there are plenty of people on Mayor Bell’s side to promote the city nationally in an effort to land a project that what would be an incredible opportunity statewide. Editorials have been published throughout the city including this one by Micheal Tomberlin, “Why not Birmingham for Amazon’s Second Headquarters?”, and Russell Hooks of Happens’ in the Ham says, “World class and innovative healthcare may be Birmingham’s key to Amazon’s new HQ.” Even a reporter at the Washingtonian believes that Birmingham warrants serious consideration. So the question I have for the day is why does someone who wants to be our mayor not believe in our city and what’s worse? Even if he didn’t believe in the future of our city, as he professes so passionately every chance he gets, why would he go on record in a way that could ultimately hurt our chances? With friends like Woodfin speaking out on our Amazon bid who needs enemies?
Randall Woodfin’s secret partnership with convicted thieves raises major ethical questions.
Mayoral Candidate Randall Woodfin has spent the last year promoting his personal and professional resume in his quest to become mayor. He has promoted every detail from his high school days to working with the Botanical Garden and everything in between. So why did he leave out that for the last seven years he has been a leading board member of a company that entitles him to a share of 25 percent of that company’s profits? According to Secretary of State records, on November 29, 2011 Woodfin became a board member of a new company named Caldwell Holdings. According to these documents, he, as said board member, would be entitled to a share of 25 percent of the company’s profits. At the time Woodfin was 29 years old and his resume indicates no prior executive experience. His time on this board and any mention of it, is also glaringly missing from his biography on his campaign website and could not be located in any previous mentions of his professional experience. A closer look at Caulfield Holdings reveals many significant issues with this partnership. Caulfied holdings is owned by Kelli Caulfield and her mother Gayle Cunningham, who also serves as a board member alongside Woodfin. The same two women later found themselves at the center of a massive scheme to defraud the children of the Birmingham area through stealing over $500,000 from the city’s Head Start program. U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard D. Schwein Jr. issued a statement that highlighted the costs of the theft saying, “Gayle Cunningham was able to steal money intended to help some of the most vulnerable members of our community because she traded on her long tenure at JCCEO to receive broad discretionary powers from its board. She and her daughter exploited that authority to steal nearly a half million dollars from the agency. As a result, training programs lagged, Head Start buses were not replaced, and classroom computers were running on obsolete, unsupported operating systems. Prison is deserved for this type of abuse of trust and misuse of federal funds.” As a self-declared champion for children, one would think Randall Woodfin would have decried these actions so callously laid out by law enforcement. “I just want to ask the court for mercy,” the article says then-Birmingham Board of Education President Woodfin told the judge. Woodfin asked that if there had to be some form of incarceration, that it be home confinement. But the question remains, why would Randall Woodfin get involved in a case where Head Start money — money for little kids– was stolen? Especially since he was president of the Birmingham School Board at the time. According to court documents, Cunningham and Caulfield bought multiple properties in Jefferson and Shelby Counties. Cunningham and Caulfield used Head Start money to make mortgage payments, pay property taxes, and make repairs to the homes they had bought, robbing our children of their pre-k funds. Birmingham City School Board President, Woodfin testified on the behalf of these criminals, but never bothered to disclose that he is a board member for Caulfield’s company. Again, as a board member, he profited a portion of 25 percent of the company’s proceeds. Through out the trial and even after Cunningham and Caulfield were convicted —Cunningham was ultimately sentenced to two years in prison and had to pay paid $492,195 in restitution. Meanwhile, her daughter, Caulfield, was sentenced to eight months home confinement and supervised probation — Woodfin never spoke out about this secret partnership. He even failed to disclose this financial relationship on his annual ethics forms — a clear violation of state law. All of these documents are public record and they show a troubling trend for Randall Woodfin. How do you condone and defend your business partners stealing money from pre-k children — literally as investigators pointed out taking away books, supplies and computers of the most innocent citizens? These are questions that voters will have to ask themselves and Woodfin prior to election day. Alabama Today has reached out to the Woodfin campaign for comment and will update accordingly pending response.
William Bell writes Jeff Sessions, Donald Trump for Larry Langford’s early release
Birmginham Mayor William Bell has submitted a letter for early release for former mayor Larry Langford. The letter, submitted to President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Thursday asks for compassionate release from federal prison due to his chronic health issues. Langford is serving time following his 2009 conviction for bribery where he took an estimated $235,000 from an investment banker while he serving as Jefferson County commissioner in return for millions of bond work. He and Bell have been friends since childhood, where they played Little League together. Both went on to attend UAB. “We’ve been friends through the years,” said Bell. “But this has nothing to do with friendship.” According to the letter, Langford, who is 70 years old, has served over 50 percent of his 157 month and 26 day sentence. Bell says Langford has several chronic health issues and deserves to come home to be in the care of his family and loved ones. “The idea of a compassionate release was established for this reason,” said Bell in the letter. “I ask that you please seriously consider Mayor Langford’s release at this time and allow him the privilege of spending time in the care of his family and loved ones.” Bell previously made the same request of President Barack Obama in November 2016. Read the full letter below:
Supporters of Birmingham mayoral candidate Randall Woodfin speak up
With only three weeks to go until the runoff election in the Birmingham mayoral race, it’s safe to say — it’s become a slugfest. This is far from surprising to anyone who has even casually followed the bitter race between incumbent Mayor William Bell and attorney and former Birmingham school board president Randall Woodfin in the past two weeks since the Aug. 22 primary. Supporters of both candidates have actively taken blows at one another attempting to discredit their opponent. Last week, supporters of Bell — two students and a member of the Birmingham school board — posted two Facebook videos in an effort to a light on their personal experiences with Woodfin, speaking out again his actions whilst he served as President of the Birmingham school board. One video, called into question an incident with Woodfin in which school board member Cheri Gardner recounts that he challenged her to a physical fight. In the other video, two Ramsay High school alums also took to Facebook to describe their personal experiences with Woodfin, calling into question his decision-making ability On Wednesday, Woodfin met with his own supporters to rally and encourage them in final weeks of the campaign. After speaking to the crowd, his supporters spoke up for him. “This isn’t a tug of war. This is war. And you see how the enemy plays right now. To assassinate your character, to come against you and your volunteers,” said a Woodfin supporter in the video. “This city has been divided because of this election, and it should never be that.” Directed at Woodfin, he continued, “Our goal, my goal, for this campaign, is that you sit in that seat on October 3. But it’s critical. This a critical time in the history of Birmingham, Alabama. We can either lead the world or we can fall behind and I think we’ll do well if you’re leading the charge. Watch the video below: Woodfin faces Bell at the polls Oct. 3.
