Sonja Smith
Birmingham City Council - District 8
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About the Office
The City Legislature is the municipality's governing body, responsible for voting on ordinances and policies, and often is in charge of hiring a city manager.
Term Length
4 years
Election Date
Aug 26, 2025
About Me
Party
Independent
Occupation
Community Organizer
Fun Fact
I enjoy learning new things, meeting new people, trying new foods, and figuring out about new music artists and genres. Outside of politics, I absolutely love activism, fighting for the rights of black and brown people, and being a voice for the voiceless.
Past Experience
Achievements: Featured in Teen Vogue Magazine, The British Broadcasting Corporation, Al.com, The Washington Post, and various other media publications for my successful efforts in building youth-led movements, successful push to get Birmingham City Schools students out of school uniforms, led the charge for universities in Massachusetts to dig up and remove dangerous lead pipes, pushed for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to divest billions in state pension funds from gun manufacturing companies, spearheaded the movement for Birmingham City Schools to have safe, in person graduations for high school seniors in 2020, etc.
Responsibilities: Creating and running the Birmingham chapter of Students Demand Action (which is apart of Everytown for Gun Safety), leading national protests and youth movements, and serving as Student Government President at Boston College.
Skills: Perfect Communication, public speaking, technology expert, charismatic, people's person, and well acquainted with different people and cultures.
My Top Issues
Invest in crime prevention
I believe we should properly fund and invest in community-focused programs and organizations that uplift people in our communities, mentally, financially, and spiritually. By investing in these areas, we can root out crime by rooting out the causes of it, which are poverty and lack of community structure.
Offering resources and support for minority-owned businesses
It is important that Birmingham builds a strong foundation for its' minority-owned business community to thrive. Without a strong minority-centered business economy, Birmingham will miss its' chance at growth in the 21st century. As the country becomes more and more diverse, Birmingham must offer every resource and mode of support it can to attract diverse populations across all sectors of business.
Career development training
I believe it is far beyond time to invest in the careers of young black and brown people. It is time to prepare our children for a job market where they are competing on an international level. By investing in and strengthening the global mindsets of our young people, we can prevent crime, grow our business community, and change our communities for the better.
Economy
I am passionate about cultivating a thriving small business ecosystem. I will support existing small businesses in realizing their full potential while we work together to nurture new ventures. By sharing resources, offering strategic guidance, and showcasing local entrepreneurship, we can create an environment where innovation flourishes and economic opportunities abound for all.
Government Reform
I believe in the power of collaboration to build strong, vibrant communities. I am dedicated to supporting local neighborhood associations in achieving their goals and driving innovative growth. Together, we will explore sustainable strategies that not only stabilize our neighborhoods but also enhance their unique character, creating safer and more connected environments for everyone.
Education
Together, we will create dynamic opportunities for students to engage with professionals from diverse industries and gain real-world insights. By fostering these collaborations, we can provide hands-on experiences and mentorship that inspires creativity and open doors to new possibilities, preparing the next generation for success in an ever-evolving economy.
Who I'm Running Against
David Rivers (Democrat Party)
David Rivers is a 62 year old black man residing within the City Council District 8. David does not really seem to have any background with city politics, or politics at all, but from the looks of his social media, he does seem to be very involved with the Belview Heights neighborhood association. Belview Heights is one of the major neighborhoods within the city council district 8. David participates in neighborhood Christmas decoration competitions, neighborhood meetings, neighborhood events, and Christmas giveaways for the community. He may not be a strong competitor district wide, but he is certainly one to worry about when looking within certain neighborhoods in the district. He is also very well dressed and well-traveled. He appears to be apart of the LGBTQ community, which may not translate well with certain voters within the district.
Sonja Smith (Democrat Party)
Sonja Smith is considered the frontrunner and veteran in this election, considering she is the current Birmingham City Schools Board Member for the district she is running for city council. Sonja has the support of Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, as he has donated multiple small donations to her campaign and supported her behind the scenes by finding and sponsoring her campaign manager. Sonja knows the district well and is using nearly a decade of intel, guidance, and relationships she has used to run her previous two campaigns for the Birmingham School Board. Her campaign for city council (district 8) started off rocky considering she had her campaign kickoff party at small grocery store in the district, but she has been picking up substantial steam considering she raised nearly $10,000, with a major $4,000 donation from the "Alabama Democratic Party."
Jonathan Hatten (Democrat Party)
There is not much known about this candidate except that he hosted his campaign kickoff within 100 days of the election in front of an Applebees restaurant in the district.
Susan Palmer (Democrat Party)
There is not much known about this candidate except she is an older resident of the Central Park neighborhood and serves at the neighborhood president of the Central Park neighborhood association.
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