New Mayor In Alabama Guided By His Experience At Morehouse

Morehouse College alum Randall Woodfin has made history in Alabama. He just became the youngest mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, in more than 120 years.

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the Birmingham native attributes much of his success to Atlanta-based Morehouse.

At Morehouse, student government plays a prominent role in campus life, he had told voters on his campaign website.

“It’s hard for me to know where to begin to talk about what Morehouse did for me,” he said on the site. “It’s a place where campus politics and student government has the kind of importance that football has at the University of Alabama.”

He graduated in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and was president of the student government association during his senior year.

Woodfin beat out seven-year, two-term incumbent William Bell last week for the position at age 36.

He is the youngest mayor to fill the seat since David Fox in 1893.

Among his supporters: former U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, who sent a congratulatory tweet. Woodfin built a platform centered on improving the city’s safety and bettering the sense of trust between citizens and Birmingham City Hall.

“Our city, our 23 communities, our 99 neighborhoods, you have all spoken very clearly — we deserve better,” Woodfin said during his victory speech.

Before he took his mayoral post, the attorney worked closely with Birmingham city government, becoming assistant city attorney and later a board member of the Birmingham Board of Education.

Morehouse, just southwest of downtown Atlanta, is a private historically black liberal arts college that was founded in 1867.