City Hall

The New MosesAs political rallies go, William Bell’s May 29 gathering in Linn Park to announce his candidacy for mayor of Birmingham was almost as surreal as the night that 1982 gubernatorial candidate George Wallace was wheeled across a red carpet while a barefoot Tammy Wynette sang “Stand by Your Man.” As strains of “The Twilight Zone” theme segued into the theme from Star Wars Bell was loudly introduced by a local preacher: “Ladies and gentleman, I introduce . . . the new Moses, whom God has summoned to come back again, and to lead Birmingham back to victory . . . Dr. William Bell!” The former council president and interim mayor, who departed city headquarters three years ago after losing his council seat to Elias Hendricks, circulated through the crowd and shook hands with supporters to initiate what he hopes will be a triumphant return to City Hall.

Taking his cue from the reverend, Bell did his own impersonation of a Baptist minister. Grinning as though he were preparing to part the Red Sea, he pointed toward City Hall and shouted, “Each day I get calls from people out of that building over there. I get calls from people who are working with the community for the city of Birmingham who say, ‘William, we need you to come back and straighten things out!’” Supporters cheered as Bell proclaimed, “This city has a great future ahead of itself. Birmingham has a future that will rival any city in this country! All we have to do is believe that God has anointed this city to be that shining city on the hill!”

The 20-year council veteran reached for his props, which included a black cap with “MAYOR” emblazoned on the front—the same style often worn by Mayor Bernard Kincaid outside of City Hall. Kincaid defeated Bell in 1999 in a monumental upset, even though Bell, as interim mayor following Richard Arrington’s early departure, ostensibly enjoyed an incumbent’s advantage. Referring to the cap, Bell intoned, “This is a symbol of city government . . . but this is not a crown to be worn. This is a badge of servitude . . . It’s not something to put on your head and parade around. You don’t see the governor walking around with a cap on saying ‘GOVERNOR.’ You don’t see a senator walking around with a cap saying ‘SENATOR’!” Bell then grabbed a white cap imprinted with the word “LEADER.” Cheers rose again while Bell shouted, “This city’s going to take off like a rocket!”

After his campaign speech, Bell addressed reasons for the $16 million budget deficit. “Too much revenue was projected. That’s primarily because you’ve got an inexperienced person who is director of finance.” Bell added that others at City Hall were not experienced enough to know the “real questions to ask.” When asked how he would heal the rift that unexpectedly developed between several councilors and the mayor’s office, Bell said, “Just by sitting down with the council, whether it’s a public meeting or whether it’s a one-on-one meeting. I get the impression from some council members that they don’t have the opportunity, really, to sit down with [the Mayor] to get a sense of direction or guidance, or have input. And that’s what’s really causing that division there. As mayor, I plan to reach out to them, and really be a servant to the council.” Bell said that he would approach this campaign differently. “The last time around, I was traveling with a lot of baggage. I was the interim mayor for about three months. And during that time I took on a lot of baggage . . . but that’s gone. I don’t have that baggage. I’m running free and loose. I’m not attached to anybody, except the people of Birmingham.”

—Ed Reynolds