Montgomery, Alabama elects its first African American mayor

Montgomery, Alabama, a city with deep ties to the civil rights movement and the confederacy, elected its first African American mayor in its 200 year history.

Montgomery Alabama first African American mayor

Steve Reed, 45, a probate judge in Montgomery beat television station owner David Woods in a runoff.

Reed gained 32,918 votes to Woods’ 16,010 votes, according to incomplete, unofficial returns.

He will be sworn in Nov. 12.

Reed was the first African American elected as the county’s probate judge in 2012. In 2015, he was the first probate judge in Alabama to issue same-sex marriage licenses.

“This election has never been about me. This election has never been about just my ideas. It’s been about all of the hopes and dreams that we have as individuals and collectively in the city,” Reed said in his victory speech.

Reed said his campaign was built on a coalition focused on the city’s future and “all of the things that tie us together rather than those things that keep us apart.”

City with deep ties to the civil rights movement

Montgomery is about 60% black and has been losing population for years.

Issues in the race included tackling crime, which Woods said is his top priority during a debate.

“We’re a city that wants to move forward and a city that wants a vision for the future, and a city that wants to see better opportunities across the board,” Reed told The Associated Press.

Photo Source: StevenReed.com