Woodfin Launches Run for 3rd Term, Seeks to Accomplish Something a Birmingham Mayor Hasn’t in Nearly 40 Years

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times Almost six months to the day of Birmingham’s next mayoral election, incumbent Randall Woodfin on Saturday, August 22, officially launched his reelection campaign for a third term in office. Woodfin, accompanied by family, staff, volunteers, elected officials, and neighborhood leaders, packed Iron City Birmingham with hundreds of enthusiastic supporters who came with signs, applause, and chants, and danced to music from a live DJ to rally behind the mayor’s campaign. In seeking a third term, Woodfin is attempting to accomplish something that hasn’t happened in Birmingham since 1987 when Richard Arrington won his third term after being elected as the city’s first African American mayor in 1979. Bernard Kincaid ran unsuccessfully for a third term as mayor in 2007; he was defeated by Larry Langford. William Bell ran unsuccessfully for a third term as mayor in 2017; he was defeated by Woodfin. So far, Woodfin faces challenges from State Rep. Juandalynn Givan and community activist Kamau Afrika, both of whom have announced plans to run for mayor. At the Saturday event, Woodfin pledged that this year’s August 26 election would be a continuation of the progress that began when he was first seated...