Woodfin launches the third -term campaign as mayor of Birmingham – Birmingham

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has officially launched his third -term campaign during an event held on Saturday morning at Iron City, saying that the city had reached too far to turn back.

“Some people have amnesia,” he told the crowd. “We have to remind them what we did.”

These achievements, he said, include:

• $ 11 million in five years for Birmingham’s promise, which has made 1600 scholarships or paid opportunities for internships.
• More than $ 60 million in street pavement.
• $ 15 million for a family fun center in the western end of the city.

The mayor also said that during his time the city had suffered a reduction in six of the seven types of violence crimes. However, he acknowledged that the percentage of killings, which reached a record high in 2024, was “the one in our face is affected families, not only mine, but also many in this community.”

To turn to this, said Woodfin, city leaders have recently passed a $ 16 million raising and detention program. He added that the city also invested more than $ 8 million in youth programs such as conflict resources, mental health resources and financial literacy courses.

Woodfin also advertises the city’s success in supporting education through programs such as Page Pals Pals Contorate. Because of this support, he said, the Birmingham school recently saw the percentage of third -graders they read when raising the possession from 54% to 81%.

Woodfin asked the Iron City crowd to commit to working with him so that Birmingham could “continue to build and continue to rise.”

“We are facing challenges that require bold leadership,” he said. “I think it is fair to say that Birmingham is at a crossroads and I want to define this crossroads as follows: we can or continue to move forward, fight for good jobs, more festive neighborhoods and real opportunities for Every family, or let out external forces and the old ways of thinking hold us. This campaign is for one thing. It is about building a city that works for all our residents. “

Woodfin runs and won the mayor’s office for the first time in 2017. He said he then intended to endure only two terms. But as his time began to wind up, he revised. In the fall, he told Birmingham Times in a text message: “There is much more work for neighborhoods and infrastructure. If the Birmingham people will have me, I am more than ready to continue to serve. “

To date, two candidates have said publicly that they are running against Woodfin: State representative Huandaline Givan, D-Birmingham and Community activist Kamau Africa.