State Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham) took aim at those accusing her of mudslinging in the race to replace Birmingham’s Mayor Randall Woodfin, arguing that she was focused on "facts."
During a nearly hour-long interview on the "Gary Richardson Morning Show" Wednesday morning, Givan discussed the issues facing Birmingham, from its violent crime to the need to refocus on infrastructure improvements. But first, she had strong words for those who she said were trying to derail the tone of the election.
She was clear about her intentions to focus on the current administration's failed policies, saying, "No one is slinging mud. This is an election, and everything that I say to you is going to be facts."
"The fact of the matter is, did Birmingham have its higher murder rate last year? Fact. Are the streets decayed and our communities dilapidated? Fact. Listen, is the response time for the service needed by the citizens of Birmingham really lacking at this time? That's fact. Listen, did we have last year over 150 deaths, gun violence deaths, some unsolved? These are facts. Is the City of Birmingham no longer the number one populated city in Alabama? That is fact. This is not a lie," she continued. "These are things that can be researched and can be responded to."
Givan's frustration was palpable as she said, "I will not start this race off with anyone lying to the people," explaining why she was giving the interview.
While she didn't name Woodfin — she said she wasn't going to draw first blood — she stated, "If you're in these positions and your skin is that thin, 'Woe is me; everybody is against me'... [and you're] walking around upset because someone criticizes your policies... Maybe you don't need to be in politics."
She also had a strong message to the citizens of Birmingham.
"Everybody likes access," Givan outlined. "Everybody likes to rub shoulders with people. But listen: We're beyond that now. This city is dying. It is devastated. It is decaying, and yes, Birmingham has been known as the Magic City, but as I've said, Birmingham has lost its luster, but guess what? It's not so lost we can't bring back the magic."
Critics of Woodfin have long pointed to his frequent trips to the White House for photo opportunities as opportunistic, insisting that he and his focus should have remained in Birmingham to address the problems facing the city. Woodfin announced the same week as the city closed in on the record-high tragic rate of homicides that he was set to release his memoir, Son of Birmingham, in January 2025.
Givan said, "We're seeing a game of Russian roulette only for the purpose of someone getting back in office or to bolster their credibility."
Apryl Marie Fogel is a Birmingham resident who frequently appears on, and guest hosts radio programs around the state. She can be reached at aprylmarie.fogel@1819news.com or on X and Facebook at @aprylmarie.
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