BIRMINGHAM, AL - On Thursday, December 13, the Birmingham City Council met with 26 candidates who applied for the vacant District 1 and District 6 seats. Six of the 32 candidates who applied did not attend the scheduled meeting.

Candidates were given one minute to explain why they are the most qualified person for the position. The Council did not ask questions, rather they listened to each candidate’s pitch.

The Council narrowed the field of candidates down to the top three for each district. Those candidates are as follows:

District 1:

• Brandon McCray

• Clinton Woods

• Gwendolyn Welch

District 6:

• Barry Bearden

• LaTanya Millhouse

• Crystal Smitherman

The Council is in the process of finalizing extended interviews for each of the remaining candidates.

The date for those interviews has been scheduled for this coming Tuesday, December 18 at 11:15 a.m. immediately following the City Council meeting.

The appointed representatives will serve until the next citywide election, a date for which has not yet been determined.

This press release was written by Cody Owens, Public Information Officer, in the Birmingham City Council Office of Public Information.For media inquiries please contact the Interim Director of Public Information, Chiara Perry at 205.254.2294.