Steven Reed Becomes 1st Black Mayor In Montgomery’s 200 Year History

Steven Reed Becomes the First Black Mayor in Montgomery’s 200 Year History

Do we have a new President Barack Obama on our hands? By 67% of Montgomery, Alabama voters – a city once known as “the cradle of Confederacy” – 45-year-old Steven Reed became the first Black mayor in the city’s 200 years of existence. But make no mistake about it – he was already a history-maker as the first Black probate judge in Montgomery County, and one of the first to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in the state.

The central theme of his campaign was unity. Mayor Reed said this in his riveting victory speech:

“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 – as individuals and collectively – in this city. The beauty if what we were able to do from Newtown to downtown has been to connect all parts of this city and the way around the opportunity to improve outcomes for everyone – regardless of their neighborhood, regardless of their zip code, regardless of anything that may divide us or may be different from one another.”

He continued:

“We have been focused from day one about the things that make us better – the things that unite us. And this is what I see in this crowd. And this is what I see in the results of tonight, is a unified Montgomery – and let the record show that.”

Welcome, Mayor Reed!

Written by Miata Shanay

Authored by: Miata Shanay