Richard Arrington Won't Seek Return To Mayor's Office In Birmingham

Jet, Oct 29, 2001

Former Birmingham, AL, Mayor Richard Arrington says he will not seek a sixth term after City Council candidates aligned with his political machine fared poorly in a recent election.

None of the six challengers backed by the Arrington-controlled Jefferson County Citizens Coalition won outright in the recent Council election. Challengers led in most districts where incumbents were on the ballot.

"There's no way I can run with the votes tonight," he said on election night. Arrington said before the election he'd seek another term if he liked the make-up of the new Council.

Six candidates supported by the current mayor, Bernard Kincaid, made runoffs; five were the top vote-getters.

Arrington, who was Birmingham's first Black mayor, retired in 1999 after serving five four-year terms.