2007 Birmingham, Alabama mayoral election

2007 Birmingham, Alabama mayoral election Alabama File:Flag of Birmingham, Alabama.svg presidential no 2003 Birmingham, Alabama mayoral election 2003 2009–10 Birmingham, Alabama mayoral special election 2009–10 (special) October 9, 2007 150x150px File:Larry P Langford.jpg Larry Langford Nonpartisan candidate 26,230 50.33% File:3x4.svg Patrick C. Cooper Nonpartisan candidate 15,396 29.54% File:Bernard Kincaid (105489053) (cropped).jpg Bernard Kincaid Nonpartisan candidate 4,234 8.12% Mayor Bernard Kincaid Nonpartisan Larry Langford Nonpartisan The 2007 Birmingham, Alabama mayoral election was held on October 9, 2007, to elect the mayor of Birmingham, Alabama. Incumbent Mayor Bernard Kincaid ran for re-election to a third term.Bryant Joseph D. Mayor Kincaid wants 4 more years The Birmingham News August 8, 2007 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178109144/ Newspapers.com August 3, 2025 However, amid rising crime rates, Kincaid faced a difficult re-election campaign.Wolfson Hannah City needs new vision, residents say at polls The Birmingham News October 10, 2007 6A https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178111534/ Newspapers.com August 3, 2025 County Commissioner Larry Langford, who previously ran for Mayor in 1979; attorney Patrick Cooper; former interim Mayor William A. Bell; and City Councilwomen Carole Smitherman and Valerie Abbott emerged as Kincaid's leading competitors. In the election, Langford narrowly won a majority of the vote, receiving 50.3 percent, and avoiding the need for a runoff election.Wolfson Hannah Langford wins: Outright: With 50.3%, Langford fulfills pledge to win without runoff The Birmingham News October 10, 2007 1A https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178111138/ Newspapers.com August 3, 2025 However, Cooper, who placed second with 30 percent of the vote, declined to concede, noting, "There are some irregularities." Cooper filed a legal challenge to the results, arguing that at the time of the election, Langford was not a legal resident of the city.Spencer Thomas Cooper challenges mayoral election The Birmingham News October 18, 2007 1A https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178111070/ Newspapers.com August 3, 2025 Cooper's lawsuit was dismissed, and he initially appealed it to the Alabama Supreme Court, seeking to have the case heard on an expedited schedule.Velasco Eric Cooper wants appeal of election to be fast-tracked The Birmingham News December 5, 2007 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178111025/ Newspapers.com August 3, 2025 However, he dismissed the challenge on December 17, 2007, saying, "I think I was right, but sometimes you must subordinate what you think is right for what is best for the city."Velasco Eric Cooper to drop his election challenge The Birmingham News December 18, 2007 1A https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178110977/ Newspapers.com August 3, 2025 However, Langford did not serve out his full term as Mayor. He was indicted by federal prosecutors on December 1, 2008, on bribery charges,Walton Val Langford indicted The Birmingham News December 2, 2008 1A https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178112115/ Newspapers.com August 3, 2025 and he was convicted of sixty separate counts of bribery-related charges on October 28, 2009, resulting in his automatic removal from office.Hubbard Russell Langford guilty: Mayor convicted on all 60 counts The Birmingham News October 29, 2009 1A https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178112230/ Newspapers.com August 3, 2025 General election Candidates Larry Langford, Jefferson County CommissionerSingleton III William C. Langford running for mayor The Birmingham News June 6, 2007 2B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178108912/ Newspapers.com August 3, 2025 Patrick Cooper, attorneyBryant Joseph D. City lawyer Patrick Cooper sets post with 'new ideas' The Birmingham News December 2, 2006 1D https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178109320/ Newspapers.com August 3, 2025 Bernard Kincaid, incumbent MayorBryant Joseph D. Mayor Kincaid wants 4 more years The Birmingham News August 8, 2007 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178109144/ Newspapers.com August 3, 2025 William A. Bell, former interim MayorBryant Joseph D. William Bell announces he'll run for mayor The Birmingham News June 17, 2007 13A https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178109513/ Newspapers.com August 3, 2025 Carole Smitherman, City Council PresidentBryant Joseph D. Smitherman decides to run for mayor The Birmingham News August 19, 2007 13A https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178109837/ Newspapers.com August 3, 2025 Valerie Abbott, City CouncilmanBryant Joseph D. Abbott adds her name to mayoral ballot The Birmingham News July 29, 2007 19A https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178109986/ Newspapers.com August 3, 2025 Barry Taylor, city inspectorBryant Joseph D. City inspector running for mayor The Birmingham News August 9, 2007 4C https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178110038/ Newspapers.com August 3, 2025 Darryl Perry, baggage handlerBryant Joseph D. Perry wants to woo shoppers back to the city, cut sales tax The Birmingham News September 27, 2007 1C https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178110315/ Newspapers.com August 3, 2025 Raymond Brooks, former Chief of the Birmingham Fire and Rescue ServiceBryant Joseph D. Ex-fire chief offers bold action for city The Birmingham News September 25, 2007 1B https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178110414/ Newspapers.com August 3, 2025 Buddy Hendrix, retired attorney, 2003 candidate for MayorWolfson Hannah Hendrix's cavalier campaign draws on careers The Birmingham News September 26, 2007 1C https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news/178110515/ Newspapers.com August 3, 2025 Results 2007 Birmingham mayoral election results2007 Mayoral Election, Special School Board Election Birmingham City Clerk https://www.birminghamal.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2007-Mayoral-Election-Special-School-Board-Election.pdf dead https://web.archive.org/web/20181220140046/https://www.birminghamal.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2007-Mayoral-Election-Special-School-Board-Election.pdf December 20, 2018 August 3, 2025 Larry Langford Nonpartisan candidate 26,230 50.33% Patrick Cooper Nonpartisan candidate 15,396 29.54% Bernard Kincaid Nonpartisan candidate 4,234 8.12% William A. Bell Nonpartisan candidate 3,505 6.73% Carole Smitherman Nonpartisan candidate 1,804 3.46% Valerie Abbott Nonpartisan candidate 736 1.41% Barry Taylor Nonpartisan candidate 71 0.14% Darryl Perry Nonpartisan candidate 59 0.11% Raymond Brooks Nonpartisan candidate 42 0.08% Biddu Hendrix Nonpartisan candidate 41 0.08% 52,118 100.00% References Category:2007 United States mayoral elections Category:2007 Alabama elections 2007 Category:2000s in Birmingham, Alabama Category:October 2007 in the United States