Louise Alexander

Louise Alexander represents District 2 in the Bessemer City Council.

She was first elected to the Council in 1998 and was re-elected in 2002.

In June 2006 she lost to E. B. McClain in the Democratic primary for Alabama State Senate, District 19. In August of that year she was re-elected to the City Council after winning a run-off with challenger Clinton Harris.

In 2008 Alexander was charged with using her office for personal gain and for soliciting bribes during an investigation by the Alabama Attorney General's office and the Alabama Ethics Commission into possible corruption at Bessemer City Hall. She was accused of soliciting funds from Tuscaloosa businessman Stan Pate for school programs that did not exist. The indictment accused her of receiving checks totaling $17,775. She claimed that the money went toward gift baskets and other items for school principals, teachers and students. She was found not guilty in a February 2010 jury trial.

In a 2009 special election Alexander again ran unsuccessfully for Alabama Senate District 19. The seat was left open by the departure of convicted Senator E. B. McClain.

References

• Gordon, Robert K. (September 4, 2008) "Bessemer Councilwoman Louise Alexander indicted." Birmingham News
• Debro, Anita (February 8, 2010) "Bessemer city councilwoman found not guilty on all counts." Birmingham News