Birmingham City Councilor William Bell announced today that he is officially a candidate for County Commission District 1. The special-called election will be held Feb. 5 to fill the commission seat vacated by now-Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford.According to Bell, his first priority is protecting Cooper Green Mercy Hospital. The three-person Republican majority on the commission has considered selling the hospital to a private company or otherwise reducing the county’s role in healthcare for the poor and uninsured.
Bell noted that he has worked before with County Commission President Bettye Fine Collins when they served together on the Birmingham City Council.
Bell has run for the county commission before in 1994, when he lost to Jeff Germany. His recent political history has been a mixed bag of wins and losses. He has run three times unsuccessfully for Birmingham mayor, narrowly losing in 1999. In 2001, voters ousted Bell from city council seat, which he won back four years later.
Other candidates in the commission race include Kamau Afrika, Orville Ifill, Fred Plump, former Ala. Rep. Eric Major and George Bowman. In December, Gov. Bob Riley appointed Bowman to fill the vacant seat.
If Bell were to win the Feb. 5 election, the city council would appoint a replacement to the empty council seat until a special election could be held.
January 14th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
What’s the word on the governor’s appointee? Will Riley sit by and let his guy step aside after the election, or is he going to go back to court?
February 4th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Does the Birmingham Weekly have any favorites in this race? Or do you stay out of the endorsement business? The B’ham News supports Orville Ifill, but I don’t really know much about him.
February 4th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
We feel that endorsements are a little high-handed and quasi-stentorian for our style. However, I like to be transparent with readers always.
I’m voting for Obama tomorrow. But as I live in District 2, I don’t have a voice in the commission race. Also, it’s a tremendous regret on my part that, because of another major project, I haven’t been able to spend time with all these candidates.
Since returning to City Hall in 2005, William Bell has been a good councilor, but next to that crowd, it’s hard not to look good. He’s mellowed some and the county commission would probably be a good place for him. Since returning to the council, Bell has proven to be a peacemaker and a negotiator. While most councilors are trying to start fires, Bell is best at putting them out.
As a city hall reporter, I don’t know Orville Ifill that well, but he has a good reputation. I wouldn’t want to slight him by supporting Bell.
That said, the Birmingham News endorsement has been the Kiss of Death, as Mayor Kincaid used to call it. I suspect at the end of the day tomorrow, Bell will win this one walking away, or at the very least, lead the race into a runoff.