Candidates for mayor of Birmingham who were excluded from the Carver Theatre debate stage earlier this week are demonstrating that their exclusion was unfair.
The WJLD 104.1 FM-sponsored discussion on Tuesday was criticized by candidates David Russell and Kamau Afrika as being prejudiced against them due to their exclusion.
Five mayoral candidates from Birmingham spoke to a packed house as well as hundreds more on social media and the internet.They did not invite the other four applicants.
According to Afrika, grassroots candidates shouldn’t face consequences for declining the backing of large, avaricious foreign businesses that have seized power in all of the country’s governments.
After a quarrel, Afrika was asked to leave the discussion, where she had been an audience member.
He claimed that the participants would not have consented to remain at the Carver Theatre debate if they had valued justice and the rule of law.
On stage were Mayor Randall Woodfin, State Representative Juandalynn Givan, Commissioner Lashunda Scales of Jefferson County, businessman and activist Brian K. Rice, and preacher and non-profit leader Frank Woodson.
According to Gary Richardson, president and CEO of the WJLD station, Afrika, Russell, Marilyn James-Johnson, and Jerimy Littlepage were left out of the lineup due to their fundraising figures and polling strength.
He said that the debating rules we employed were standard for companies.
We therefore came to the conclusion that there would be five on that debate stage rather than the four who didn’t show up or didn’t poll well, based on the polling data we saw and your capacity to raise money.
Russell has a different perspective.
“I’m really, really mad,” he said.
A folder full of petitions from his previous attempts to oppose changes at the Birmingham Water Works Board was opened by Russell.
Russell claimed that the petitions are unmistakable proof of his legitimacy as a candidate due to his activism.
He pointed to David Russell’s petitions and stated, “They want to hear from him.” We believe they are attempting to exclude us.
Russell agreed with Afrika that candidates should not be denied the chance to present their agendas based only on financial considerations.
According to Russell, money doesn’t vote. I have spent my entire adult life helping in the community. I am already well-known.
As an alternative, Richardson stated that on August 21, WJLD will broadcast and stream a second debate between the less well-liked candidates at his station.
Although he will take part in the secondary event, Afrika stated that because Woodfin won’t be present, it doesn’t have the same significance or draw as much attention as the first.
This week, candidates centered their emphasis on Woodfin, criticizing his record following two terms and highlighting their own proposals.
“We can’t recreate that scene,” Afrika stated.
He stated, “I’m not bitter, but I’m concentrating on the issues.” Dealing with someone’s personal distaste for me is not something I have time for.
Richardson, on the other hand, claimed that personalities had nothing to do with the format. Richardson claimed that despite the disapproval of the disqualified contestants, he has gotten overwhelmingly good comments for his station’s debate presentation.
According to him, they felt it was conducted fairly, professionally, and without prejudice toward any specific candidate.
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