In a social media post on Sunday evening, lifelong Democrat and Kamala Harris supporter David Silverstein, a candidate for Mountain Brook City Council, made a last-ditch plea to win Republican voters in his bid to unseat conservative incumbent Gerald Garner in Tuesday's election.
The letter begins, "Re: As Lifelong Republicans and Conservatives, We Want to Set the Record Straight."
It is a far cry from campaign endorsements that Silverstein touted in 2023 when he ran against Mike Bolin for the Jefferson County Commission. During that race and in its aftermath, Silverstein made his partisanship a central part of his campaign, sending mailers featuring the support of Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and former U.S. Senator Doug Jones.
The Sunday dispatch began, "City Council is not Washington, D.C," before defending Silverstein's "character" and "steady judgment."
However, in a concession speech after his loss in the 2023 county commission race, as reported by the Hoover Sun, Silverstein hinted at taking on U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), saying, "Am I going to give up? Hell no!"
"I look forward to standing before you again. I'm not announcing a candidacy, but there's one senator, one U.S. senator, that does not represent the state," Silverstein said.
Silverstein has consistently defended his partisan record, which includes not only stating that Tuberville did not represent the state, but also a recent 2024 contribution to Kamala Harris's presidential campaign.
Yellowhammer News reported in a 2023 that, "As a mainstay of support for Alabama's Democratic candidates, Silverstein has given $30,000 to former Gov. Don Siegelman; $7,600 to former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones; $9,700 to U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham); $5,000 to Tuscaloosa Mayor and former gubernatorial candidate Walt Maddox; and $47,500 to Sue Bell Cobb's unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination for governor."
At the time, "Silverstein has made 51 contributions to Democratic candidates for federal and state office," the report stated. Those numbers have since increased.
This week's letter went on to say, "He listens, he builds consensus," a belief not shared by residents of Birmingham's neighboring Crestline Park neighborhood, where Silverstein, in partnership with one of the co-authors of the letter, Robert Burton, tried to develop a 55-unit high-density rental project in place of a church in their quiet single-family neighborhood. Silverstein and Burton sold the property less than a month ago.
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Although there was an open race and an empty seat on the council following Tuesday's election, Silverstein challenged the incumbent Garner, the most conservative serving, leading to widespread speculation that Silverstein's motives from the beginning were hyper-partisan.
The election will be held on August 26.
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