Woodfin Inaugurated as Birmingham’s 30th Mayor

Sherrel Stewart | November 28, 2017

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Randall Woodfin, a 36-year-old former Birmingham school board member, was inaugurated Tuesday as the city’s 30th mayor. Hundreds looked on from Linn Park as Woodfin took the oath of office. He defeated William Bell in a runoff on Oct. 3. The celebration continued with a reception including the mayor and City Council at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

Here’s a glance at the event:

Who was on stage

Woodfin was joined on stage by his parents, siblings, senior staff members and city council members. Former mayors Richard Arrington and Bernard Kincaid were seated in the front row, along with nationally syndicated commentator Jeff Johnson, who supported Woodfin throughout the campaign. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell was also on stage. Former Mayor William Bell did not attend, but Woodfin acknowledged him in his comments.

Who prayed

The Rev. John Cantelow III, Woodfin’s pastor at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, offered the opening prayer and benediction. The Rev. John Cox from the Church Without Walls in Houston, Texas gave the invocation. Cox was one of Woodfin’s college roommates at Morehouse College in Atlanta. Cox’s father gave the invocation in 1979 when Richard Arrington was inaugurated as mayor.

Who was in the VIP seats

Woodfin is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Dozens of his brothers worked in this campaign and were on hand wearing black and gold ties Tuesday. The Jefferson County Commission members, judges and other county officials were also seated in the white chairs reserved for special guests. Morehouse president, Harold Martin Jr. and the alumni director, Henry M. Goodgame, one of of Woodfin’s mentors, came from Atlanta for the inauguration.

Speech themes: unity and transparency

Woodfin said he will work with the council because that’s what residents want.

“We will work together to build a stronger city, a safer city, a more just city – not because it’s practical, but because the 10 of us believe it is the right thing to do,” Woodfin said.

Randall Woodfin’s road to inauguration

Randall Woodfin is set to be sworn in later today as the new mayor of Birmingham. We take a look back at the events of the past year, from Woodfin’s announcement of his candidacy to his runoff victory in the mayoral race.

wbhm

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Wed, Nov 29 2017 03:31:41
Randall Woodfin to Run for Mayor of Birmingham | WBHM 90.3

His campaign is set to officially kick off Saturday, August 27, at the North Birmingham Recreation Center, close to where he went to elementary school.

Dan Carsen
Focus on Birmingham Mayor’s Race as Election Revs Up | WBHM 90.3

Between the mayor’s race, city council and school board – 19 seats in all are up for grabs in the Birmingham City Elections set for August 22.

Sherrel Stewart
WBHM

A WBRC Fox6 News poll shows Mayor William Bell leading in his bid for re-election, followed by building contractor Chris Woods and Birmingham School Boardmember Randall Woodfin. Find out how the candidates stack up when it comes to raising funds. wbhm.us/64113

Wed, Aug 02 2017 20:06:54
Birmingham will now answer a question asked back when Woodfin told @WBHM he’d run for mayor… http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2016/08/randall_woodfin_to_run_for_may.html … pic.twitter.com/FNTJW7gAJj

Mark Stencel @markstencel

·

Wed, Aug 23 2017 03:53:37

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2017 Birmingham Mayoral Debate | WBHM 90.3

WBHM and the Birmingham Business Journal partnered to present the 2017 Birmingham Mayoral Debate. We hear from the top three candidates in Birmingham’s race for mayor as determined by public polling: incumbent Mayor William Bell, and challengers Chris Woods, and Randall Woodfin.

Gigi Douban
WBHM 90.3 FM @WBHM

Randall Woodfin: “It’s time to have a Mayor we can trust”

Thu, Aug 10 2017 13:45:35

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Birmingham Mayor’s Race Goes to a Runoff | WBHM 90.3

Birmingham Mayor William Bell and challenger Randall Woodfin will head to a runoff. The runoff will take place October 3.

Gigi Douban
The rhythm of Randall Woodfin’s mayoral election party is dance, cheer encouraging results (now leading with 73% of Birmingham precincts reporting), dance more.

WBHM

·

Wed, Aug 23 2017 02:40:31
Selfies and Handshakes and Smiles, Oh My! Birmingham Mayor’s Race Heats Up | WBHM 90.3

The Birmingham city election runoff is less than two weeks away, and in the mayor’s race, almost any street, coffee shop, boutique or park can turn into a battleground for votes.

Sherrel Stewart
Birmingham voters decide today: Will Randall Woodfin become the city’s new mayor or will William Bell win another term? Here’s one for Bell. pic.twitter.com/6XYHI5iM6F

WBHM 90.3 FM @WBHM

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Tue, Oct 03 2017 21:51:22

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Randall Woodfin has “youthful energy.” You know, like @CoryBooker. Woodfin challenges Mayor William Bell in today’s municipal runoff. pic.twitter.com/0j1Mzd8DZI

WBHM 90.3 FM @WBHM

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Tue, Oct 03 2017 22:09:33

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WBHM 90.3 FM @WBHM

About 10% of Birmingham precincts reporting.
Bell 51%
Woodfin 49%

Wed, Oct 04 2017 00:47:35

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WBHM 90.3 FM @WBHM

It’s 60-40 for Woodfin right now over Bell. This is 32% of boxes. https://twitter.com/4newzscoop/status/915389165235310592 …

Wed, Oct 04 2017 01:33:51

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wbhm

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Wed, Nov 29 2017 03:30:18
WBHM 90.3 FM @WBHM

Randall Woodfin will be Birmingham’s next mayor. William Bell expected to make his concession speech momentarily.

Wed, Oct 04 2017 02:44:35

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Birmingham has a new mayor: Randall Woodfin.

WBHM

·

Wed, Oct 04 2017 02:45:47
WBHM

Voters sent Mayor-Elect Randall Woodfin to the mayor’s office in Tuesday’s municipal runoff election in Birmingham. The 36-year-old will be the youngest mayor in more than 120 years.

Wed, Oct 04 2017 14:06:18
WBHM Politics: A New Mayor for Birmingham | WBHM 90.3

WBHM reporter Sherrel Wheeler Stewart and Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discuss the results of Tuesday’s election that make Randall Woodfin Birmingham’s next mayor.

Andrew Yeager
Randall Woodfin @WoodfinForBham

I was on WBHM this morning talking about our historic campaign and the future of Birmingham under my administration. https://news.wbhm.org/feature/2017/woodfin-shocked-old-guard-now/ …

Fri, Nov 03 2017 16:52:05

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WBHM

For more than a year now, we’ve seen and heard Randall Woodfin, but who is this 36-year-old lawyer who will be sworn in next week as Birmingham’s 30th mayor? Listen to this piece from WBHM’s Sherrel Wheeler Stewart to learn more.

Tue, Nov 21 2017 20:08:20

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Woodfin Inaugurated as Birmingham’s 30th Mayor

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