Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin was sworn in for a second term as mayor Tuesday afternoon before hundreds of residents at Birmingham’s Linn Park.
In August, Woodfin cruised to a second mayoral victory in the city’s municipal elections, accumulating 64 percent of the total vote against seven total challengers, including Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales and former Mayor William Bell.
“Contemplating these next four years, I think back on what brought me to this point,” Woodfin said in a statement after the inauguration. “I think back on why I ran for mayor in the first place, the things I wanted to accomplish, the challenges I wanted to meet and conquer.”
Bell was present at Woodfin’s inauguration alongside former Mayors Richard Arlington and Bernard Kincaid. Also present was Congresswoman Terri Sewell, D-Alabama, former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, and a host of state and county officials. All nine members of the now majority female Birmingham City Council were also present.
“We will work with you in the second term as you focus on police reform, economic development, bringing jobs while investing in our youngest generation, and neighborhood revitalization,” said Council President Wardine Alexander. “Let’s get to work and get it done.”
During his time before the crowd Tuesday, Woodfin pledged continued focus on city public safety and touted accomplishments from the previous term, including the creation of the Birmingham Promise and investments in city infrastructure.
“As we gather here today, let’s agree on one thing, and we should take this time to pause and agree that Birmingham is about the future,” Woodfin said on stage Tuesday. “I think it’s important that we get busy doing the things that must be done to secure Birmingham’s future, a future of greater opportunity, a future of greater prosperity, and greater access to the ingredients of a good life, for everyone who calls Birmingham home.”
