William A. Bell, Sr. (born June 1, 1949) is an American politician who is the
current Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama. He took office in 2010. Bell previously held the office on an interim basis in 1999. Bell was elected following a run-off with Patrick Cooper. Bell won the run-off with 53.6% to Cooper's 46.4%. He is a Democrat.
Bell served several terms on the Birmingham City Council. In 1985, he became the first African-American to serve as President of the Birmingham City Council, having been elected to that position by the members of the council.
On December 15, 2015, Bell and city councilor Marcus Lundy were involved in a physical altercation with one another.
Mayor William A. Bell, Sr. is one of the most dynamic, effective and respected public servants in Birmingham, Alabama, having served the City of Birmingham as City Councilor and Council President for over twenty-five years. Mayor Bell was elected to a full term as Mayor of Birmingham, the largest city in the state of Alabama, in 2011. He was re-elected Mayor again in 2013. In 1985 during his third term on the Council, he was elected to serve as the first African-American President of the Birmingham City Council. He was again chosen as President following the Birmingham City Council elections in 1987 and 1997. While serving as President, he was instrumental in implementing the consent agenda and designing the new council chamber which other local governments modeled and integrated into their city‘s plans.
In 1988, Dr. Bell pushed through funding for Child Care Resources, Incorporated. This service provided assistance for poor and working mothers who needed decent and affordable childcare.
Dr. Bell also worked with the Merchants of the Fourth Avenue Business District to transform that area into a productive business corridor so that blacks could purchase their own building where they worked each day. He also assisted in funding capital improvement projects for the YWCA and the YMCA.
As Chairman of the Finance and Administration Committee, he was responsible for various revitalization projects in neighborhoods such as the Norwood Community Program that received national recognition for its model neighborhood concept. Druid Hills, Avondale, Woodlawn, Five Points South, and Fountain Heights have also benefited from Dr. Bell’s efforts to revitalize communities and provide more green space for families to enjoy.
During his tenure, he meets with the corporate leaders of the Birmingham Banking and Financial Industry to push for more women and minorities to serve on boards and be promoted to administrative positions. When Mayor Bell became the interim Mayor, the city of Birmingham received over twenty-five millions dollars in federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Hope VI Project downtown that transformed local inner city projects into decent, affordable, mixed housing communities where citizens could live and thrive.
Bell served several terms on the Birmingham City Council. In 1985, he became the first African-American to serve as President of the Birmingham City Council, having been elected to that position by the members of the council.
On December 15, 2015, Bell and city councilor Marcus Lundy were involved in a physical altercation with one another.
Mayor William A. Bell, Sr. is one of the most dynamic, effective and respected public servants in Birmingham, Alabama, having served the City of Birmingham as City Councilor and Council President for over twenty-five years. Mayor Bell was elected to a full term as Mayor of Birmingham, the largest city in the state of Alabama, in 2011. He was re-elected Mayor again in 2013. In 1985 during his third term on the Council, he was elected to serve as the first African-American President of the Birmingham City Council. He was again chosen as President following the Birmingham City Council elections in 1987 and 1997. While serving as President, he was instrumental in implementing the consent agenda and designing the new council chamber which other local governments modeled and integrated into their city‘s plans.
In 1988, Dr. Bell pushed through funding for Child Care Resources, Incorporated. This service provided assistance for poor and working mothers who needed decent and affordable childcare.
Dr. Bell also worked with the Merchants of the Fourth Avenue Business District to transform that area into a productive business corridor so that blacks could purchase their own building where they worked each day. He also assisted in funding capital improvement projects for the YWCA and the YMCA.
As Chairman of the Finance and Administration Committee, he was responsible for various revitalization projects in neighborhoods such as the Norwood Community Program that received national recognition for its model neighborhood concept. Druid Hills, Avondale, Woodlawn, Five Points South, and Fountain Heights have also benefited from Dr. Bell’s efforts to revitalize communities and provide more green space for families to enjoy.
During his tenure, he meets with the corporate leaders of the Birmingham Banking and Financial Industry to push for more women and minorities to serve on boards and be promoted to administrative positions. When Mayor Bell became the interim Mayor, the city of Birmingham received over twenty-five millions dollars in federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Hope VI Project downtown that transformed local inner city projects into decent, affordable, mixed housing communities where citizens could live and thrive.
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