Mayor’s Race in Birmingham Shaping Up
Speaking of the Matrix Group as we were last week (because Senate District 32 candidate Don McGriff had said recently the Matrix Group was running his campaign, and said since that the Matrix Group was never running his campaign. To tell the truth, I had a follow-up post on that but decided it just wasn’t that interesting.)…
The Matrix Group’s presence is felt in the Birmingham mayor’s race; they are running all facets of Larry Langford’s campaign.
And mention of that campaign gives me reason to pass on some things I’ve picked up about the mayor’s race in our state’s biggest city…
City councilor Carole Smitherman, wife of majority-caucus maker Sen. Rodger Smitherman, is expected to be a strong candidate. Everyone is waiting to see if, as rumored, Sen. Smitherman’s 11th hour Senate caucus switch will result in resources for his wife’s mayoral campaign.
I talked to two different rocks of the Birmingham community, two from the old guard who have toiled as hard as anyone I know for years and years for the betterment of Birmingham, and asked them who they supported for mayor. Interestingly enough, their answers were the same. They didn’t know, but not Larry Langford and not incumbent Bernard Kincaid.
The story on Kincaid is that he is a likeable fellow but his tendency to micro-manage has created an administrative bottleneck. Maybe even one with cork in it.
City Councilor William Bell (and one-time momentary mayor) has name recognition and may be a strong candidate. Critics consider him aloof and distant. Some resent the ham-handed attempt of long time Birmingham mayor Richard Arrington to anoint Bell as his successor by stepping down just before the end of his term so that Bell could become interim mayor and run as incumbent. He recovered from that loss to Kincaid to recover his city council seat in the last election.
Hard-working City Councilor Valerie Abbott is well-respected in her district, but I don’t hear anyone saying that her district’s respect translates into her being a strong candidate for the citywide job.
Everyone agrees that so far no one has been working harder than Patrick Cooper. Most people I have talked to who have heard him speak say they come away impressed. He has produced a TV spot (below).
So his message is — Vote for me because I used to shovel dirt?
Comment by Dan — July 18, 2007 @ 9:46 am
I heard Patrick Cooper speak, and was not impressed. Once he got away from his prepared remarks, he made GW Bush look downright eloquent. He, like, really, like, wants to, like, do, like, good, like, things, like, for Birmingham.
Comment by JD Hogg — July 18, 2007 @ 9:51 am
I think his message is that he understands the plight of the working man, but used his advantages to put himself in a position to help.
Also, don’t you hate candidates with real ideas?
Comment by Anonymous — July 18, 2007 @ 11:05 am
Dan must have a short attention span, unless you stopped watching after 5 seconds you couldn’t think that his message is “Vote for me because I used to shovel dirt”. His message is that he’s a personal success story and is not tied to the past leadership. And he talks about a crime plan, expanded pre-k , and college tuition and job placement programs.
Comment by Anonymous — July 18, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
What real ideas? That we can build a Birmingham we want… is that really an idea?
I’m not opposed to Patrick Cooper. I don’t know anything about him and I don’t even live in Birmingham. I was just making an observation. Candidates spend a lot of time defining themselves before they get to issues. I just hope his issue isn’t that we can “build a Birmingham we want” because that’s not an issue or a plan. It’s an abstract thought that means nothing.
Comment by Dan — July 18, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
Sadly, in Birmingham, the political will to get ANYTHING done is an issue, and will be until, a anonymous says, they get someone in the office not tied to the past leadership.
Seems to geehaw with what APCO’s CEO said in last year’s speech to the chamber of commerce about B’ham lagging behind Jackson, Nashville, Charlotte, etc.
Comment by Anonymous — July 18, 2007 @ 1:22 pm
patrick cooper, did not ever use a shovel, he was born with black silver spoon in his mounth
Comment by blackdog — July 18, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
Dan,
Cooper outlined several specific ideas. It’s a 30 second ad, not a State of the Union. I don’t really care who Bham elects as mayor and I doubt it will be Cooper, but don’t attack him for lacking substance when he offered a good deal of specific information.
Comment by Anonymous — July 18, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
If Frank Matthews (blackdog) is against Cooper, thats a good reason to be for him.
Comment by Anonymous — July 18, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
I was mainly making fun of the “Patrick Cooper dug ditches and worked construction.” I actually went to his homepage and his crime plan is a real plan. His “every can go to school for free without raising taxes” could be explained a little better.
Maybe I went a little too far by saying “What plan?” but I was mainly laughing at “He used to dig ditches and work construction.” Again, like I said before, I realize that candidates have to tell voters who they are as much as what they will do. I just thought it was funny.
So far he’s got my vote if I suddenly move to Birmingham.
Comment by Dan — July 18, 2007 @ 8:03 pm
So what if he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth? He would be the first intelligent mayor Birmingham has had in quite a while. I could not care less how much money he has had or currently has.
Comment by Anonymous — July 19, 2007 @ 9:55 am
Cooper will be hurt because of Abbot’s entry. I can’t figure out why Abbot is running — she can’t win, and she’s smart enough to know she can’t win.
Comment by Little Sis — July 20, 2007 @ 10:40 am
Ok, patrick is a great guy who has a great plan. i am a young voter. my mom taught me to really read between the lines in people. i have met patrick in many events. i have had the chance to really sit one on one with him a few times. like i said i am young and i have spoken to him about the education in kids. i went to hoover schools all my life so i kinda had the privilege of good education. however now that i have graduated high school and i meet people in the “real” world i kinda am thankful for hoover. if patrick has plans for better education (which he does) then he def has my votes. i am 19 i have 20 tattoos and i have alot of friends that how do i put it dont take voting serious. i actually asked patrick how he looked at people like us he said that he only wishes people would take more time to actually vote and pay attention to the people running. most candidates look down on tattooed people which are mostly the younger crowd. i say this with facts:) anwho i am rambaling VOTE COOPER FOR MAYOR and you wont be sorry
Comment by Jessica — July 23, 2007 @ 12:41 am
Cooper offers leadership, vision and success outside of politics. He is like Obama, He could be another Maynard Jackson and inspire black businesses.
Comment by Jerome — September 11, 2007 @ 3:22 pm
Hi,
This is Jillian Bell and yes, my dad is William Bell. My response is for Jessica more than for anyone else. First off, thanks for leaving a positive message on here. It gets to be pretty catty sometimes, which is sad. You’d think “grown ups” would behave better. I digress. I, myself, am 25 and have friends that also don’t take votig seriously and am glad that you do and are getting out there to find out about the political candidates that are going to shape the future of our city for us and our kids someday; even if you don’t want to vote for Bell (who I would vote for even if he weren’t my dad.)
My dad actually has the same sentiment about young voters in the city as Patrick Cooper, I’m sure. I don’t currently live in Birmingham, but was home visiting for the summer and helping my dad out with his campaign as much as I could; and one of the things I hosted was a meet and greet at the wine loft where myself and my cousin, Michael got people in our age group out to hear what my dad had to say and for him to hear our concerns as young people who have left the city, are thinking of leaving the city, and or who want to stay but need to get more from the city (Birmingham) than we currnetly do. We even got some people registered to vote, which was awesome.
If you can, you should really get out to hear all of the candidates (who attend them) at the forums around town; not only that, but take your friends too! Just to have an educated point to base your vote on. Not just because you heard one candidate and he souded good. Hear them all. Carol, Bernard, Larry, Patrick, my dad, and Valerie… Listen, compare, then make your decision.
As for me, I truly believe in my heart that William Bell is the best candidate for the job of Birmingham City’s mayor. He has the vision and the know-how to get things done in this city and a love and passion for it like no other. He is talented in so many ways and could do so many other things, yet he continues to have this drive to be in it. I’ve grown up witnessing it all my life and even at times being jealous of it, and now I really admire him for it and wish him all the best…
Comment by Jillian Bell — September 12, 2007 @ 7:03 pm
also, here are some of the upcoming forums…
September 24, 6:00 pm - Smithfield Community
Forum
First Congregational
Christian Church
1024 Center Street N.
September 24, 6:30 pm - Crestwood Neighborhoods (North and South) Forum
Old Comer School
1220 50th Street South
September 27, 6:00 pm - Western Area
Community Forum
Fair Park Arena
September 28, 10:00 am - Retired Educators
Forum
Ryan Steakhouse
( on Crestwood Blvd)
Comment by Jillian Bell — September 12, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
IMAGINE………………
The city of Birmingham holds a political race that is not focused on the color of the candidate’s skin……
They don’t care if this person struggled while growing up or had what some have called a “black silver spoon”….
They don’t see male or female, but a person with a passion…..
The candidates aren’t labeled “the black communities black candidate”, the white communities white candidate”, “the black communities white candidate”, the white communities black candidate”………(GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!)
A community not afraid of change……….
A city that’s been plagued by prejudice long enough……black & white……decides it’s time to elect a candidate that sees past this and wants a city that comes together, white & black, to create a GREAT city!!!!!!!
IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can we as a city focus on a candidate that………….
Doesn’t just care about the title of MAYOR, but really cares about the actual JOB of MAYOR……..
Wants to improve our school systems which would improve the city’s FUTURE…….
Has used the means available to them to educate themselves so that we can actually have intelligent decisions made..
Cares about all the people in the city, BLACK & WHITE, not just one race or the other……….
Is showing their work ethic in how they carry out their campaign………..
Does not resort to spreading lies/ putting down other candidates/ and take the focus off their own inabilities…..
Wants to drastically lower the Birmingham City crime rate…….
Wants to encourage growth for the city so we can have more jobs……
The list goes on…………………………
Let me encourage you to research and know the candidates you are voting for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I HAVE……..
And after doing so, my conclusion is that even though he may not be the only candidate for the job…….
HE IS THE BEST CANADITE FOR MAYOR OF BIRMINGHAM!!!!!!!!
Patrick Cooper has my vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LP
Comment by LP — September 14, 2007 @ 12:14 am
I’m a young voter and Partick Cooper has my vote thus far. Mainly because he is a fresh face. But we’ll see. I agree with Jillian Bell that we should hear all of the canidates out. But honestly, we’ve been listening to most of the canidates ideas for years with litte fruit.
I’ve grown up watching Birmingham politics and it always seems to trudge along, with feet dragging and hair pulling.
Most of the canidates have been in the Birmingham political system for so incredibly long. I think most of them have lost any sense of objectivity and I believe it has an effect on their public duties. There should be some law passed to that allows a mayor to serve no more than 2 terms. Same should go for the city council. If we don’t keep the water moving, it’ll stagnate and grow nasty. Bring on some change!
Comment by Royce — September 15, 2007 @ 5:25 pm
Birmingham present mayor have been dragging his feet on civil / racial issues.
It is time for a real leader (Patrick Cooper).
The candidate(s) council members have created waste of tax payers money!!!! poor decision making on task force that lead to dead ends. Research each candidate and vote for a Brighter / Safer Birmingham.
Comment by Fossil — September 28, 2007 @ 12:08 pm