Municipal elections in Alabama are nonpartisan. Some candidates make it easier than others to determine their political affiliation, while others subtly change their messaging and priorities to make it less than clear. This is true of JT Smallwood, candidate for Trusville mayor.
While his campaign messages lean heavily towards conservatism, focusing on lower taxes and fiscal responsibility, Smallwood has run as a Democrat twice before and has a long history of supporting liberal ideas and politicians.
CBS 42 reported on Smallwood’s background when he announced his campaign, saying, “He last faced election in 2020 where he defeated Charles Alexander in the Democratic primary and ran unopposed in the general election."
The outlet added, "In 2018, Smallwood was the Democratic challenger to Republican Joe Knight in the County Commission race, which Knight won handily.”
The Secretary of State's website shows that in February 2024, he contributed to a Democrat candidate for constable. In 2006, he donated to the Democratic nominee for attorney general.
He shared a post touting the U.S. Supreme Court's decision upholding Obamacare as a win and saying that the Fair Housing Act needed to add protection from discrimination based on "gender identity or expression. In his post, he said, "There's still more work to be done."
The election will be held on August 26. A run-off election, if necessary, will occur on September 23. According to the City's website, the organizational meeting for the new administration is scheduled for November 3. Other candidates for the position include Lisa Bright and Ben Short.
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