Steven Reed (mayor) explained

Steven Reed
Office:57th Mayor of Montgomery
Term Start:November 12, 2019
Predecessor:Todd Strange
Birth Date:20 February 1974
Birth Place:Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Education:Morehouse College (BA)
Vanderbilt University (MBA)
Signature:Steven L. Reed signature (636912652040200000).png
Office2:Probate Judge of Montgomery County, Alabama
Termstart2:November 6, 2012
Termend2:November 12, 2019
Predecessor2:Reese McKinney, Jr
Successor2:J C Love, III

Steven L. Reed (born February 20, 1974)[1] is an American jurist, politician, and the mayor of Montgomery, Alabama. A member of the Democratic Party, he was a probate judge in Montgomery County. Reed is the first black mayor of Montgomery.

Early life and education

Steven L. Reed[2] was born in Montgomery, Alabama, to Joe and Mollie Reed (née Perry) as one of three children. His father, Joe, was one of the first class of elected members of the Montgomery City Council from 1975 to 1999. Reed earned a Bachelor of Arts from Morehouse College and a Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University.

Reed is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, having been initiated into its Theta Alpha graduate chapter in 1998.[3]

Early career

He was a financial analyst, then changed careers and lobbied the Alabama legislature, and worked for Lieutenant Governor Jim Folsom Jr.

Reed was elected as probate judge in 2012. In February 2015, he was the first probate judge in the state of Alabama who started issuing same-sex marriage licenses[4] after district judge Callie V. Granade struck the state's ban on same-sex marriage, defying Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore.[5] [6] In March 2015, after a ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court, he stopped issuing them.[7]

Mayor of Montgomery

Reed ran for mayor of Montgomery in the 2019 election, and defeated his opponent David Woods in a runoff.[8] He was officially sworn in as mayor on November 12, 2019.[9] Prior to being sworn in, Reed took part in a prayer service at the historic Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, which gained notoriety at the start of the Civil rights movement for leading the Montgomery bus boycott.[10]

Reed ran for re-election in 2023, and defeated three opponents with 57% of the vote.[11]

Elections

Montgomery County Probate Judge

2018 General Election

Montgomery Mayor

2023 General

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Alabama capital elects first black mayor in 200-year history . Associated Press . October 9, 2019 . October 9, 2019 .
  2. News: For a Civil Rights Hero, 90, a New Battle Unfolds on His Childhood Street . Elaina . Plott . December 25, 2020 . The New York Times . December 26, 2020 .
  3. Web site: Omega Psi Phi's Steven Reed Was Just Elected The First Black Mayor of Montgomery, Alabama. 2019-10-10. Watch The Yard. en-US. 2019-11-13.
  4. News: Fausset. Richard. Perez-Pena. Richard. Wolfe. Kalyn. Federal Judge Sets Hearing in Alabama on Same-Sex Marriage. June 30, 2015. The New York Times. February 10, 2015.
  5. News: Ala. Probate Judge Knocks Chief Justice: I'm On 'Right Side Of History'. June 30, 2015. MacNeal. Caitlyn. February 15, 2015. Talking Points Memo.
  6. News: Chief Justice Roy Moore's defiance to federal government 'places Alabama a step backwards,' says Montgomery probate judge. The Birmingham News. Edgemon. Erin. June 30, 2015. February 16, 2015.
  7. News: Moon. Josh Rick Harmon. County Probate office won't issue same-sex marriage licenses. June 30, 2015. Montgomery Advertiser. March 4, 2015.
  8. News: MacNeil . Sara . August 27, 2019 . Steven Reed, David Woods head to runoff for Montgomery mayor . Montgomery Advertiser . October 9, 2019 .
  9. News: Steven Reed sworn-in as Montgomery's first black mayor. . 12 November 2019. 12 November 2019.
  10. Web site: Dexter Avenue Baptist Church . NPS.gov . November 12, 2019 .
  11. Web site: Griesbach . Rebecca . 2023-08-23 . Steven Reed, Montgomery's first Black mayor, wins re-election: 'Old Montgomery ain't coming back' . 2023-11-23 . al . en.