Jimmie Stephens
James "Jimmie" Stephens (born March 17, 1951 in Jefferson County) is the owner of Jimmie's Storage Center, a former member of the Bessemer City Council, and current president of the Jefferson County Commission and representative of District 3.
Stephens attended Bessemer City Schools and earned bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration at Samford University in 1973 and 1975. He owned the former Jimmie's Food Center and was president of Food Centers Inc. and a member of the board of directors for Associated Grocers of Alabama. He teaches business at Hueytown High School and has served on the Bessemer Board of Zoning Adjustments, the Bessemer Airport Authority, and the Bessemer Commercial Development Authority. He was elected to the Bessemer City Council in 2006.
In 2010 Stephens defeated incumbent Bobby Humphryes in a runoff of the five-way Republican primary and easily defeated Democrat Vivian Ford in the general election. He was re-elected in 2014, and subsequently succeeded David Carrington as Commission president. He continued in that position after being re-elected in 2018 and 2022.
In 2024 Stephens and Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin came into conflict over the city's efforts to have police process more felony arrests through the county jail for pre-trial detention. Woodfin accused the commission of intentionally slowing economic development projects in the city of Birmingham as part of a political dispute. Stephens responded to AL.com reporter Joseph Bryant by saying that "[Woodfin]'s chosen to utilize his tax dollars somewhere besides taking care of his jail and we’ve decided to utilize our tax dollars somewhere instead of taking care of economic development in Birmingham – same thing."
Stephens is a life-long member of Canaan Baptist Church and also a member of Flint Hill Lodge No. 810.
| Preceded by: Betty Woods |
Bessemer City Council District 4 2006–2010 |
Succeeded by: Donnie Thigpen |
| Preceded by: Bobby Humphryes |
Jefferson County Commission District 3 2010– |
Succeeded by: (current) |
| Preceded by: David Carrington |
Jefferson County Commission President 2014-present |
Succeeded by: current |
References
- Hansen, Jeff (May 21, 2010) "Campaign 2010: Eight candidates running for Jefferson County Commission, District 3 seat." The Birmingham News
- Bryant, Joseph D. (February 25, 2024) "Mayor Randall Woodfin accuses county commission of political vendetta against Birmingham." AL.com
External links
- Jimmie Stephens campaign website