On Sunday, State Rep. Barbara Drummond (D-Mobile) formally announced her candidacy for mayor of Mobile at St. Peter Baptist Church.
“This campaign is about bringing Mobile together—every neighborhood, every family, every small business—and making sure no one is left behind,” said Drummond. “I’m running for Mayor because I believe in Mobile’s potential, and I know that when we work together, we can build a city where everyone thrives.”
She made the announcement to a crowd of about 125 supporters.
Drummond joins Strickland Youth Center deputy administrator Lawrence Battiste, former District Judge Spiro Cheriogotis, Mobile County Commissioner Connie Hudson and former County Commissioner Stephen Nodine as candidates who have officially qualified to run for the office.
Former police chief Paul Prine is a potential candidate. He told 1819 News that he would make a decision and announce his intentions by March 14.
There has been speculation that State Sen. Vivian Figures (D-Mobile) might run for mayor. Her son, Shomari Figures (D-Mobile), was elected in November as the new U.S. Representative from Alabama’s newly configured second congressional district. With the official entry of Drummond into the race, the talk of a Figures for the mayor race has quietened a bit.
Drummond served for a decade as an administrator for the Mobile County Commission. Then she served eight years as executive director of administrative services and community affairs under former Mobile Mayor Sam Jones. After that, she was elected to the legislative seat left by long-time State Rep. Joe Mitchell (D-Mobile).
Before entering government service, Drummond had worked as a reporter and columnist for the Mobile Press-Register back when it was an actual newspaper.
The Mobile municipal election for mayor and city council seats is on August 26. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote (50% plus one vote), there will be a runoff in September between the top two vote-getters.
Candidates must qualify to run by June 10. Since incumbent Mayor Sandy Stimpson is not running again, a new mayor will be inaugurated in November.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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