Steven Reed, Montgomery county probate judge, announced his candidacy for mayor of Montgomery on Wednesday.
“I reached this decision after much prayer and many discussions with family, friends, and members of the community,” Reed said. “I’ve received a great deal of encouragement from a wide cross-section of citizens from religious leaders, business leaders, and people on the street. If we make the right decisions in the coming years, I believe Montgomery has great opportunities in front of us.”
Reed said he believes the Montgomery community must be proactive to find new ideas on economic development, education and public safety.
“As a city, our goal must be to thrive and not merely survive,” he said. “We’ve done that in the probate court, and the mayor’s office will give me the opportunity to formulate and drive a positive agenda to move Montgomery forward.”
Reed became the first black person and youngest person ever elected probate judge of Montgomery County in 2012. He was re-elected in 2018 after running unopposed.
As probate judge, Reed aimed to improve mental health outcomes through enacting court reforms of the involuntary commitment process, solidifying election integrity as a member of the Department of Homeland Security National Government Coordinating Council and by becoming the first probate judge in Alabama to implement the federal court order on marriage equality.
Reed previously worked as a financial analyst in the private sector and as a small-business owner. As probate judge, he said he implemented knowledge from his previous experience to make the probate court a value-driven, solution-oriented office.
Reed also is a critic of voter ID laws and an advocate for protecting voting rights and expanding voter participation.
He was one of two Alabama officials to serve on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission National Standards Board.
Reed’s campaign will soon announce the details of his official campaign kickoff event and who will serve on his campaign leadership team.
