Vote 2009: William Bell to join mayoral race
By Wade KwonScott Douglas to announce his candidacy also on Thursday
William Bell has entered the race for mayor of Birmingham, or at least, has announced his media conference for 10 a.m. Thursday in Linn Park. The Jefferson County commissioner and former city councilor announced his intention via media release [pdf].
Bell served briefly as interim mayor following the retirement of Richard Arrington. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1999, 2003 and 2007, coming closest in 2003 until the runoff election against incumbent Bernard Kincaid. He began his service on the city council in 1979 and was the first black council president.
He devised the Bell Plan, selling the Birmingham Water Works for $200 million that went to school improvements.
Bell’s campaign Web site, WilliamBellForMayor.com, appears to be under construction.
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Scott Douglas also intends to run. His conference will also be at 10 a.m. Thursday, but at Kelly Ingram Park.
Douglas announced via a media release [pdf] (written in the past tense) on his campaign site, DouglasForMayor.org, defining his platform as “green jobs, green schools, green transportation, green communities.”
He has served since 1992 as executive director of Greater Birmingham Ministries, an interfaith group that serves the underprivileged and functions as community organizer.
The number of mayoral candidates has reached 11.
Hat tip to The Terminal for breaking stories on both candidates.
Also:
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More Vote 2009 coverage.
Thursday, November 12, 2009, 9:50 am
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Wade Kwon, Kara Kennedy. Kara Kennedy said: And the beat goes on-RT @WadeOnTweets: In 15 min., William Bell and Scott Douglas enter Bham mayoral race http://bit.ly/1elkBt #alpolitics […]
Monday, November 23, 2009, 11:59 pm
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