B’ham News Profiles Mayoral Candidates
The Birmingham News runs down the six major candidates in Birmingham’s mayoral race.
Jefferson County Commissioner Larry Langford is betting the downtown loft apartment he’s had for about two months is enough to show voters that he is committed to Birmingham. He’s also under scrutiny as the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission investigates Jefferson County bond deals made under his leadership.
Political newcomer Patrick Cooper, already armed with more than $400,000 in his campaign war chest, is hoping to build a multiracial coalition that also resonates in a city of mostly blue-collar black voters. At the same time, Valerie Abbott of Glen Iris, the only white City Council member in the race, travels the city and asks voters to look beyond her race and see her ability to successfully tackle the issues.
Carole Smitherman and William Bell, who came up short in previous mayoral elections, are working to repackage themselves as candidates with new ideas to move Birmingham ahead.
Mayor Bernard Kincaid talks more about himself and his accomplishments, trying to convince voters that the last eight years at City Hall were productive
I find it interesting that Cooper reports a large lead in fundraising and is the only one who has been airing TV commercials.
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