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Social worker Trudy Hunter running for mayor of Birmingham
ByJHDaniel
This candidate for mayor is writing her PhD dissertation on juvenile injustice in Alabama.
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Candidate Interview
When did you officially announce your candidacy and where/how did you do it?
“I announced my candidacy on July 7, 2017 after qualifying for mayor.”
What is the name of your principal campaign committee?
“My principal campaign committee consists of myself, and my husband is the dissolution agent.”
Why do you want to run for mayor of Birmingham?
“Making good decisions requires having the right perspective about relationships with others and processing correct and accurate information.
“Empowering people with the knowledge and working with them to promote change requires a leader to work with others who are acting powerfully and in concert.
“If we learn to strengthen by our resolve and faith in one another, together we can create tremendous change. Helping people is my passion, being their voice and an advocate means sometimes standing alone, because doing the right thing will always win out in the end.
“Increasing insight can be an effective and powerful tool for people to use in knowing that we all have something to contribute and understanding that one person’s behavior always affects another person’s feelings and behavior.”
What is your background, education and experience?
“I am a licensed master social worker (LMSW), and I have a Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D.) in advanced legal research and writing along with a Juris Doctor of Law (JD). I am writing my dissertation in public policy and public administration-law (PhD) titled: ‘Juvenile Injustice: Disproportionate Minority Contact in Alabama.’
“I hold professional certifications in grant writing, ADA compliance, Veterans’ Administration and will be sitting for the February 2018 Alabama bar exam.
“I am on faculty at Birmingham School of Law as the VA Certifying Official/ADA Compliance Coordinator and have worked for Brooks, Hubbard & James, P.C. and as a summer law clerk to Gerald Brooks.
“Birmingham Education Foundation: Community Connector fellowship and Jefferson County Department of Human Resources: child welfare senior social worker.”
What are the top three issues Birmingham is facing as a community, and how do you intend to address them?
“The growing inequality and the resultant inability to address issues of widespread poverty, crime and education effectively will require the most skilled of public administrators.
“It requires new and creative leadership on the part of both government officials and public administrators. Fostering a healthy relationship with both administrations is working effectively together by having respect for one another’s position and ideas, learning to listen to one another and effectively communicate so that all understand what is said.”
