2003 Birmingham, Alabama mayoral election

2003 Birmingham, Alabama mayoral election

←  1999 October 14, 2003 (primary) November 4, 2003 (runoff) 2007  →

Candidate Bernard Kincaid Carole Smitherman First round 14,442 32.23% 10,185 22.73% Runoff 25,459 54.35% 21,383 45.65%   Candidate William A. Bell Bob Jones First round 8,077 18.03% 5,402 12.06% Runoff Eliminated Eliminated

Mayor before election Bernard Kincaid Nonpartisan Elected mayor Bernard Kincaid Nonpartisan

The 2003 Birmingham, Alabama mayoral election was held on November 4, 2003, following a primary election on October 14, 2003, to elect the mayor of Birmingham, Alabama. Incumbent Mayor Bernard Kincaid ran for re-election to a second term. ^[1] He faced seventeen opponents in the election, including former interim Mayor William A. Bell, whom Kincaid had defeated in 1999, and City Councilmembers Carole Smitherman, Lee Loder, Roderick Royal, and Gwen Sykes.

In the primary election, Kincaid received 32 percent of the vote. He faced Smitherman, who defeated Bell for second place, 23–18 percent, in the runoff election. ^[2] Kincaid defeated Smitherman in the runoff election with 54 percent of the vote. ^[3]

Primary election

Candidates

• Bernard Kincaid, incumbent Mayor ^[1]
• Carole Smitherman, City Councilwoman ^[4]
• William A. Bell, former interim Mayor ^[5]
• Bob Jones, attorney, former member of Birmingham Park and Recreation Board ^[6]
• Paul Hollman, pastor of the Greater Beulah Missionary Baptist Church ^[7]
• Lee Loder, City Council President ^[8]
• Roderick Royal, City Councilman ^[9]
• T. C. Cannon, bar owner ^[10]
• Frank Matthews, radio host, businessman ^[11]
• Gwen Sykes, City Councilwoman ^[12]
• Mary Jones, community activist ^[13]
• Willis Hendrix, retired attorney ^[13]
• Eloise Manning Crenshaw, teacher ^[13]
• Stephannie Huey, teacher, 1999 candidate for Mayor of Denver ^[14]
• Sandy Bergeron, community activist ^[13]
• Eugene Edelman, teacher ^[13]
• James King, former radio talk show host ^[13]
• Brian Taylor, coal miner ^[15]

Results

Primary election results ^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Bernard Kincaid (inc.)	14,442	32.23%
	Nonpartisan	Carole Smitherman	10,185	22.73%
	Nonpartisan	William A. Bell	8,077	18.03%
	Nonpartisan	Bob Jones	5,402	12.06%
	Nonpartisan	Paul Hollman	2,131	4.76%
	Nonpartisan	Lee Loder	1,767	3.94%
	Nonpartisan	Roderick Royal	1,700	3.79%
	Nonpartisan	T. C. Cannon	196	0.44%
	Nonpartisan	Frank Matthews	178	0.40%
	Nonpartisan	Gwen Sykes	170	0.38%
	Nonpartisan	Mary Jones	132	0.29%
	Nonpartisan	Willis Hendrix	94	0.21%
	Nonpartisan	Eloise Manning Crenshaw	69	0.15%
	Nonpartisan	Stephannie Sigler Huey	63	0.14%
	Nonpartisan	Sandy Bergeron	58	0.13%
	Nonpartisan	Eugene Edelman	54	0.12%
	Nonpartisan	James King	49	0.11%
	Nonpartisan	Brian Taylor	39	0.09%
Total votes			44,806	100.00%

Runoff election

Results

2003 Birmingham mayoral runoff results ^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Bernard Kincaid (inc.)	25,459	54.35%
	Nonpartisan	Carole Smitherman	21,383	45.65%
Total votes			46,842	100.00%

References

1. Niolet, Benjamin (July 15, 2003). "Kincaid announces he'll seek 2nd term as mayor". The Birmingham News . p. 1B. Retrieved August 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
2. Sullivan, Erin; Singleton III, William C. (October 15, 2003). "Down to a final round: Kincaid, Smitherman plan runoff campaigns". Birmingham Post-Herald . p. 1A. Retrieved August 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
3. Singleton III, William C. (November 5, 2003). "Four more years: Kincaid plans to improve council relationship". The Birmingham News . p. D1. Retrieved August 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
4. Niolet, Benjamin (May 29, 2003). "Carole Smitherman enters race for mayor". The Birmingham News . p. 1B. Retrieved August 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
5. Niolet, Benjamin (May 30, 2003). "Ex-Councilman Bell back to run for mayor". The Birmingham News . p. 1C. Retrieved August 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
6. Niolet, Benjamin (April 25, 2003). "Jones vows 'new vision' in bid for mayor's post". The Birmingham News . p. 1C. Retrieved August 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
7. Ford, Faith (February 15, 2003). "Paul Hollman for mayor -- of Birmingham". Dothan Eagle . p. 1-B. Retrieved August 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
8. Niolet, Benjamin (March 31, 2003). "Council chief Loder will run for mayor post". The Birmingham News . p. 1B. Retrieved August 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
9. Niolet, Benjamin (May 20, 2003). "Councilman Royal to run for mayor". The Birmingham News . p. 1B. Retrieved August 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
10. Blackledge, Brett J. (August 29, 2003). "Candidates target city blight, apathy, negative attitudes". The Birmingham News . p. 4C. Retrieved August 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
11. Niolet, Benjamin (May 26, 2003). "Radio host Matthews enters mayor's race". The Birmingham News . p. 1D. Retrieved August 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
12. Niolet, Benjamin (September 18, 2003). "Gwen Sykes enters race for mayor". The Birmingham News . p. 1B. Retrieved August 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
13. Singleton III, William C. (September 30, 2003). "Looming large: Arrington's presence still felt in mayoral race". Birmingham Post-Herald . p. 1A. Retrieved August 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
14. Niolet, Benjamin (May 30, 2003). "Huey says pro teams, growth needed for city". The Birmingham News . p. 1C. Retrieved August 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
15. Niolet, Benjamin (July 12, 2003). "Date set for mayoral election". The Birmingham News . p. 10A. Retrieved August 3, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
16. "BIRMINGHAM MAYORAL ELECTION - 14 OCTOBER 2003 - OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Birmingham City Clerk. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 15, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
17. "BIRMINGHAM MAYORAL RUNOFF ELECTION - 4 NOVEMBER 2003" (PDF). Birmingham City Clerk. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 20, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2025.