Birmingham City Commission
The Birmingham City Commission (or Birmingham Board of Commissioners) was the form of Birmingham's government from 1911 to 1963. The city moved from a Mayor-Aldermen system to a three-member commission at the time that Greater Birmingham was annexed into the City. The idea was that the municipal government should be run less like a small town and more like a business enterprise. The proposal was overwhelmingly favored by voters in a 1910 referendum, and was initiated by a new City Commission election in 1911
Presidents of the Commission, beginning with Culpepper Exum, who inherited the role as the sitting Mayor, are listed at Mayor of Birmingham. LIke previous administrations, the commissions were initially elected to a two-year term. Beginning in 1917 the term was extended to four years to provide for more continuity. Between 1915 and 1923 the board was expanded to five commissioners.
This listing includes the full commission for the years 1911 to 1963, when the present Mayor-Council Act was passed, providing for a nine-member City Council.
Commissions
- 1911–1913: Culpepper Exum, president, A. O. Lane, James Weatherly
- 1913–1915: George Ward, president, A. O. Lane, James Weatherly
- 1915–1917: George Ward, president, Arlie Barber, John Hornady, J. D. Truss, James Weatherly
- November 6, 1917–November 7, 1921: Nathaniel A. Barrett, president, J. Ellis Brown, Henry Burrus, John Hornady, John H. Taylor
- November 7, 1921–1925: David McLendon, president, William Cloe, William Dickson, Mary Echols, William Harrison
- 1925–1929: Jimmie Jones, president, William Dickson, John H. Taylor
- 1929–1933: Jimmie Jones, president, William Dickson, John H. Taylor
- 1933–1937: Jimmie Jones, president, W. O. Downs, Lewey Robinson
- 1937–1941: Jimmie Jones, president (unexpired term filled by Cooper Green at his death in 1940), Bull Connor, James W. Morgan
- 1941–1945: Cooper Green, president, Bull Connor, Jimmy Morgan
- 1945–1953: Cooper Green, president, Bull Connor, Jimmy Morgan
- 1953–1957: Jimmy Morgan, president, Robert Lindbergh, Wade Bradley (resigned, term completed by Jabo Waggoner)
- 1957–1961: Jimmy Morgan, president, Bull Connor, Jabo Waggoner
- 1961–1963: Art Hanes, president, Bull Connor, Jabo Waggoner
References
- Vick, Mary-Helen (1965) A Survey of the Governing Body of Birmingham, Alabama, 1910-1964. Master's thesis. Alabama College.
- Norton, Bertha Bendall (1970) Birmingham's First Magic Century: Were You There?. Birmingham: self-published/Lakeshore Press
| Preceded by: Birmingham Board of Aldermen |
Legislative Body for the City of Birmingham 1911 - 1963 |
Succeeded by: Birmingham City Council |