“Did you hear about
Fred?” “Fred rules!” “What’s this I hear
about Fred?” “Get him!”

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Smell that? It’s the scent
of a good story waiting
to be told to all.

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The road to success
looks nothing like a highway.
Yet the path is worn.

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He never goes home,
never stops calling, writes and
rewrites with gusto.

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As satisfying
as it could be, please refrain
from feast fisticuffs.

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Buy, sell or process?
As long as you get paid a
princely, tidy sum.

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Cross this border to
see beyond the mists of youth.
Gaze into more life.

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Swiftly the currents
of events rush by, little
understood for now.

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The reset button
is faded and worn, having
been used quite a bit.

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William Bell will be the next mayor of Birmingham.

Jefferson County commissioner William Bell defeated attorney Patrick Cooper in today’s Birmingham mayoral runoff election. Bell marks the third time in a row in which the underdog mayoral candidate in Birmingham’s general election upset the leader in the runoff.

Bell received 25,354 votes, or 53.6 percent, while Cooper picked up 21,979 votes, for 46.4 percent. Voter turnout was 41 percent, much higher than in December’s general election.

Bell will succeed acting mayor and city council president Roderick Royal, who succeeded Carole Smitherman in the same capacity, who took over after former mayor Larry Langford was convicted in October in federal court.

Currently serving on the county commission, Bell previously served on the city council as its first black president and as interim mayor. He ran for mayor in 1999, 2003 and 2007. During this campaign, Bell touted selling the Birmingham Water Works for $200 million that went to school improvements, known as the Bell Plan.

Bell will serve the remaining 2 years on Langford’s term, until the next regular election in 2011.

Video: Bell’s victory speech

• • •

More Vote 2009 coverage.

It comes down to today, the runoff election to select Birmingham’s mayor for the next 2 years. After …

• 83 days since then mayor Larry Langford’s conviction, removing him from office,
• 14 candidates,
• 45 posts on Wade on Birmingham,
• 2 acting mayors,
• 1 candidate arrested,
• and another found dead,

we are down to two finalists, Jefferson County commissioner William Bell and attorney Patrick Cooper.

Voting takes place until 7 tonight.

Where to vote: Call Jefferson County at (205) 325-5550. Or try AlabamaVotes.gov and click on “Search Your Polling Place.”

Join us tonight for election results
on Wade on Birmingham.

Remember, if you have problems at your polling place:

• Notify a poll worker immediately.
• Obtain a complaint/evaluation form (or download jpgs of pages 1 and 2). Print it, fill it out, copy and mail it.
• Call the state attorney general at 1-800-831-8814 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Wednesday or fill out this online form.
• Call the secretary of state at 1-800-274-VOTE (8683) or visit her site, StopVoterFraudNow.com.
• And tell the probate court for Jefferson County (205-325-5203).
• Leave a comment below.

Additional stories:

• William Bell
  • Dec. 6 | Up close with William Bell
  • Dec. 9 | William Bell on the runoff
• Patrick Cooper
  • Dec. 5 | Up close with Patrick Cooper
  • Dec. 9 | Patrick Cooper on the runoff
• Both candidates
  • Jan. 12 | The strutinizing of Bell and Cooper
  • Jan. 15 | Bell, Cooper face off in last televised debate
  • Jan 18 | Mayoral candidates take callers’ questions

• • •

More Vote 2009 coverage.

Do not expect good
service until you give good
service unprompted.

• • •

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Birmingham mayoral candidates William Bell and Patrick Cooper have answers. At least, they did when each one took callers’ questions separately for an hour Friday on WBHM (90.3 FM) Friday.

You can hear their responses below, in case you still haven’t decided …

William Bell:

• Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Patrick Cooper:

• Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Also:

• The Birmingham News reluctantly endorses Cooper.
• Birmingham News columnist John Archibald reviews the low points of the campaign.
• Birmingham News editorial writer Joey Kennedy reviews the short tenure of acting mayor Roderick Royal, including a “Plan of Action” for the next mayor.
• Black and White: “The two candidates in this runoff election could not represent a more distinct choice.”
• Birmingham Weekly columnist Kyle Whitmire: “Birmingham needs a hero. For the time being, we’ll have to settle for something less.”
• Candidates’ latest campaign finance reports: Bell has $15,484 balance, while Cooper has $30,823 debt.

And last but not least, a shout out from Vacant Manifesto during a WBHM “Tapestry” interview (at the 1:45 mark) …

• Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The runoff election takes place Tuesday. Look for results Tuesday evening on Wade on Birmingham.

• • •

More Vote 2009 coverage.

Let’s do the same thing
a thousand times because it
takes little effort.

• • •

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Even after flu
vaccine, cootie shot, body
succumbs to sickness.

• • •

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