The lineup of candidates seeking to lead Birmingham for the next four years is set with nine people vying for the position of mayor and more than two dozen seeking to serve on the city council.
Qualifying for the Aug. 26 municipal elections ended Friday. The crowded list includes familiar names, former officials and some newcomers to city politics.
Here are the contenders for mayor:
Kamau “Marlon” Afrika
State Rep. Juandalynn Givan
Marilyn James-Johnson
Jerimy Littlepage
Brian K. Rice
David Russell
Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales
Incumbent Mayor Randall Woodfin
Frank Woodson
Woodfin is seeking a third term. The contenders are diverse in their experience and political visibility.
For example, Givan is a lawyer and state legislator, while Scales is also a veteran politician, serving on the county commission and formerly serving on the city council.
Several longtime activists are also on the ballot, including Afrika and Russell. Woodson is a pastor and non-profit executive. Newcomers include Littlepage who said he was inspired by Woodfin to seek the elected office.
The race for the nine-member city council is also packed with 29 contestants.
Two incumbents, District 5 Councilman Darrell O’Quinn and Hunter Williams in District 2, are the only council members without competition.
The race for District 8 is crowded with nine people seeking to fill an open seat as current councilwoman Carol Clarke declined to seek reelection. Longtime District 3 Councilwoman Valerie Abbott is retiring from City Hall after more than 24 years.
In District 9, former councilman John Hilliard is seeking a political comeback in a challenge to reclaim his former seat from incumbent LaTonya Tate. That race also includes Beatrice Collins, an education advocate, and Richard E. Franklin Jr., an activist and president of the Birmingham Federation of Teachers.
Here are the candidates:
District 1
Tara Nix
Incumbent Councilman Clinton Woods
Willie C. Goldsmith
Priscilla Edwards
District 2:
Councilman Hunter Williams (Uncontested)
District 3:
Josh Vasa
Ryan Jones
District 4:
Darryl T. Williams
Brian Gunn
Joseph Jordan Holt
Incumbent Councilman J.T. Moore
District 5:
Councilman Darrell O’Quinn (Uncontested)
District 6:
Keith O. Williams
Incumbent Councilwoman Crystal N. Smitherman
District 7:
Lonnie Franklin Malone
Incumbent Councilwoman Wardine Towers Alexander
District 8:
Eric Delk
David Rivers
Susan Palmer
April Myers Williams
Adlai M. Trone
Jonathan Hatten
Sonja Q. Smith
Justin M. Smith
Joe May
District 9:
Richard E. Franklin Jr.
Beatrice Collins
Incumbent Councilwoman LaTonya Tate
John Hilliard
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