2025 was an unusual municipal election year as cities voted for new leaders in what is typically an off year after Alabama lawmakers moved city elections back a year to be off the federal cycle.
So after five-year terms, candidates and challengers ran to represent their communities in 2025 across the Black Belt. The new councils and mayors took over on Nov. 3.
In Selma, the City Council and Mayor James Perkins Jr. spent the first eight months of 2025 as they had spent the previous four years, arguing over the budget and which branch of government had the authority to do just about anything.
By September, voters had replaced the mayor and the president of the city council.
Perkins failed to make the runoff in a field of eight candidates. Johnny Moss III defeated Aaron Roper in the September runoff to become mayor of the Queen City.
Council President Billy Young fell to Selma Housing Authority CEO Kennard Randolph.
Incumbents Troy Harvill, Christie Thomas Young, Clay Carmichael and Jannie Thomas retained their seats, and Michael Johnson and Lesia James had no opposition. Atkin Jemison lost his seat to Ashley Ervin, and Nadine Sanders Sturdivant took the empty Ward 5 seat.
In Demopolis Mayor Woody Collins ran without opposition, as did Councilmen Charles Jones Jr. and Nathan Hardy. Newcomers Councilwoman Dawn Newell Hewitt and District 5 Councilman Hugh Overmyer also won their seats without opposition. Luke Hallmark won his seat in a runoff on Sept. 23 against incumbent David McCants.
In Uniontown, incumbent mayor Ron Miller won reelection, as did incumbents Eddie Ward and Kimberly Bell. Incumbent Henrietta “Sis” Jones lost to Theotis Dudley and Sherman Norfleet lost to newcomer Dudley Long. Incumbent Cynthia Mims ran unopposed.
In Marion, Dexter Hinton was re-elected mayor. Jeremy Arrington took the oath for District 1, which he won in August. Edd Miree was sworn in for District 2 that he won in the Sept. 23 runoff. Ann Lecroy is new to the District 3 seat after defeating incumbent Charles Sanders in the Aug. 26 election. In District 4, incumbent Willie Jackson won reelection, and Stanley Kennie won District 5 in August against several opponents.
In Linden, incumbent Linden Mayor Gwendolyn Rogers was reelected as mayor.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.