Kenneth Coachman: Difference between revisions

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'''Kenneth Coachman''' (born in [[Fairfield]]) is chief of staff to [[Miles College]] president [[Bobbie Knight]], and a former [[Mayor of Fairfield]].
'''Kenneth Coachman''' (born c. [[1955]] in [[Fairfield]]) is chief of staff to [[Miles College]] president [[Bobbie Knight]], and a former [[Mayor of Fairfield]].


Coachman is one of 11 children born to [[Eddie Coachman|Eddie]] and [[Ethel Coachman]] of Fairfield.
Coachman is one of 11 children born to [[Eddie Coachman|Eddie]] and [[Ethel Coachman]] of Fairfield.


Coachman was one of four challengers who ran against incumbent [[Michael Johnson]] for Mayor in the [[2008 Jefferson County municipal elections#Fairfield|2008 election]]. Coachman advanced to a runoff with [[Johnnie Wyatt]], editor of the ''[[Westside Courier]]'' and manager of the [[Fairfield Civic Center]], and won a decisive victory.  
Coachman was one of four challengers who ran against incumbent [[Michael Johnson]] for Mayor in the [[2008 Jefferson County municipal elections#Fairfield|2008 election]]. Coachman advanced to a runoff with [[Johnnie Wyatt]], editor of the ''[[Westside Courier]]'' and manager of the [[Fairfield Civic Center]], and won a decisive victory. Among his goals as mayor was to nurture the city's relationship with [[Miles College]] in the same way that [[Birmingham]] leaned on its relationship with [[UAB]] when other industries were diminishing.


In [[2011]] a dispute between Coachman, who served as chair of the [[Fairfield Civic Center|Fairfield Civic Center Authority]], and the [[Fairfield City Council]] led to the facility shutting down. Wyatt resigned on [[September 21]] and issued pink slips to 16 part-time employees.
In [[2011]] a dispute between Coachman, who served as chair of the [[Fairfield Civic Center|Fairfield Civic Center Authority]], and the [[Fairfield City Council]] led to the facility shutting down. Johnnie Wyatt resigned from the center on [[September 21]] and issued pink slips to his 16 part-time employees.


In August [[2012 Jefferson County municipal elections#Fairfield|2012]] he narrowly edged out challenger [[Fredrick Scott]] to retain his seat.
In August [[2012 Jefferson County municipal elections#Fairfield|2012]] he narrowly edged out challenger [[Fredrick Scott]] to retain his seat.
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On [[March 11]], [[2016]] the City Council voted 4-0 in a special called meeting to disband the city's [[Fairfield Police Department|police department]] and seek law enforcement services from the [[Jefferson County Sheriff's Department]]. Then Chief [[Leon Davis]] objected that the meeting was given with little notice and had concluded before its advertised start. Coachman overruled the Council's vote on the grounds that the department was his responsibility. Nevertheless, many of the department's investigative functions were turned over to the county.
On [[March 11]], [[2016]] the City Council voted 4-0 in a special called meeting to disband the city's [[Fairfield Police Department|police department]] and seek law enforcement services from the [[Jefferson County Sheriff's Department]]. Then Chief [[Leon Davis]] objected that the meeting was given with little notice and had concluded before its advertised start. Coachman overruled the Council's vote on the grounds that the department was his responsibility. Nevertheless, many of the department's investigative functions were turned over to the county.


In June, City Council member [[Gloria Matthews]] accused Coachman of trying to "sink" the city and ultimately seek its annexation into [[Birmingham]].
In May, Fairfield lost its [[BJCTA]] bus service over $545,000 in unpaid debts to the service. In June City Council member [[Gloria Matthews]] accused Coachman of trying to "sink" the city and ultimately to seek its annexation into [[Birmingham]]. He denied those accusations.


Coachman decided not to run in the [[2016 Jefferson County municipal elections#Fairfield|2016 election]]. [[Edward May]] defeated six other candidates to succeed him.
Coachman decided not to run in the [[2016 Jefferson County municipal elections#Fairfield|2016 election]]. [[Edward May]] defeated six other candidates to succeed him.
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==References==
==References==
* Norris, Toraine (August 8, 2010) "Built around steel industry, Fairfield hopes Miles College can bring it second life." {{BN}}
* Norris, Toraine (September 21, 2011) "Fairfield Civic Center closes after facility manager resigns." {{BN}}
* Norris, Toraine (September 21, 2011) "Fairfield Civic Center closes after facility manager resigns." {{BN}}
* Watkins, Mia (October 9, 2012) "Kenneth Coachman wins second term in Fairfield, Reasor elected councilman." {{BN}}
* Watkins, Mia (October 9, 2012) "Kenneth Coachman wins second term in Fairfield, Reasor elected councilman." {{BN}}
* Chambers, Jesse (January 9, 2013) "Gardner presides over Fairfield city council meeting." {{BN}}
* Chambers, Jesse (January 9, 2013) "Gardner presides over Fairfield city council meeting." {{BN}}
* Robinson, Carol (March 11 2016) "[https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2016/03/special_meeting_called_to_disb.html Fiscally strapped Fairfield votes to disband police department]." {{BN}}
* Phillips, Ryan (February 4, 2016) "Fairfield stands to lose $1.5M following Walmart closure." {{BBJ}}
* Robinson, Carol (March 11, 2016) "[https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2016/03/special_meeting_called_to_disb.html Fiscally strapped Fairfield votes to disband police department]." {{BN}}
* "Fairfield votes to dissolve police department; mayor plans to keep force in place." (March 11, 2016) Associated Press
* "Fairfield votes to dissolve police department; mayor plans to keep force in place." (March 11, 2016) Associated Press
* Stein, Kelsey (May 25, 2016) "Transit authority votes to stop Fairfield's bus service, saying city owes $545k." {{BN}}
* Robinson, Ronda (June 1, 2016) "[https://www.wbrc.com/story/32110380/fairfield-councilor-accuses-mayor-of-sinking-the-city/ Fairfield councilor accuses mayor of 'sinking' the city]." WBRC.com
* Robinson, Ronda (June 1, 2016) "[https://www.wbrc.com/story/32110380/fairfield-councilor-accuses-mayor-of-sinking-the-city/ Fairfield councilor accuses mayor of 'sinking' the city]." WBRC.com
* Finnie, Alex (July 26, 2016) "[https://www.cbs42.com/news/fairfield-mayor-not-seeking-another-term/ Fairfield mayor not seeking another term]." CBS442.com
* Finnie, Alex (July 26, 2016) "[https://www.cbs42.com/news/fairfield-mayor-not-seeking-another-term/ Fairfield mayor not seeking another term]." CBS442.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coachman, Kenneth}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Fairfield mayors]]
[[Category:Miles College administrators]]

Revision as of 12:08, 11 August 2023

Kenneth Coachman (born c. 1955 in Fairfield) is chief of staff to Miles College president Bobbie Knight, and a former Mayor of Fairfield.

Coachman is one of 11 children born to Eddie and Ethel Coachman of Fairfield.

Coachman was one of four challengers who ran against incumbent Michael Johnson for Mayor in the 2008 election. Coachman advanced to a runoff with Johnnie Wyatt, editor of the Westside Courier and manager of the Fairfield Civic Center, and won a decisive victory. Among his goals as mayor was to nurture the city's relationship with Miles College in the same way that Birmingham leaned on its relationship with UAB when other industries were diminishing.

In 2011 a dispute between Coachman, who served as chair of the Fairfield Civic Center Authority, and the Fairfield City Council led to the facility shutting down. Johnnie Wyatt resigned from the center on September 21 and issued pink slips to his 16 part-time employees.

In August 2012 he narrowly edged out challenger Fredrick Scott to retain his seat.

In November 2012 Coachman began presiding over meetings of the Fairfield City Council, citing state law for cities with less than 12,000 residents, noting that the city had fallen below that threshold in the 2010 census. Council President Darrell Gardner filed a legal challenge, arguing that Coachman had called the 2012 election without accounting for a change in government. Judge Eugene Verin ruled against the Mayor and ordered that Gardner should preside over Council meetings and Coachman would not vote in the council.

During Coachman's tenure, the city was hit with several major setbacks with regard to employment and city revenues, including the loss of a Wal-Mart supercenter and the closure of U.S. Steel's Fairfield Works.

On March 11, 2016 the City Council voted 4-0 in a special called meeting to disband the city's police department and seek law enforcement services from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department. Then Chief Leon Davis objected that the meeting was given with little notice and had concluded before its advertised start. Coachman overruled the Council's vote on the grounds that the department was his responsibility. Nevertheless, many of the department's investigative functions were turned over to the county.

In May, Fairfield lost its BJCTA bus service over $545,000 in unpaid debts to the service. In June City Council member Gloria Matthews accused Coachman of trying to "sink" the city and ultimately to seek its annexation into Birmingham. He denied those accusations.

Coachman decided not to run in the 2016 election. Edward May defeated six other candidates to succeed him.

Coachman was hired at Miles College as an Interim Chief Diversity Officer before moving to his present position as chief of staff to the president of the college.

Coachman and his wife Sherylynne

References

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