Birmingham City Council, District 5

Name: Johnathan F. Austin

Age: 38

Political experience: Birmingham City Council member, District 5, 2008-present; Birmingham City Council president, 2013-present; chair, Committee of the Whole, Birmingham City Council; chair, Administration/Technology Committee, Birmingham City Council; member of the council’s Economic Development Committee, Budget and Finance Committee and the Governmental Affairs Committee; candidate, Jefferson County Commission, 2010.

Professional experience: President and CEO, Fitz Consulting; executive director, Center for Urban Missions; CEO, The New City Center.

Civic experience: Founding member, the National Technology Adoption Advisory Council; member, American Israel Public Affairs Committee; member, American Council of Young Political Leaders.

Education: Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, 2016-present; Miles College, bachelor’s degree in management, 2016; University of Alabama.

Top contributors: Alabama Development PAC, $6,000; Vanderbilt Properties, LLC, $5,000; Environmental Litigation Group, PC, $5,000; ABC Merit PAC, $5,000; Richard D. Schmalz, $5,000; Kenneth R. Adams, $5,000.

Main issues: In his next term, if elected, Austin says he wants to continue to look at innovative policies and growth opportunities for Birmingham; increase technology and equipment for Birmingham city schools; focus on justice and decriminalization reforms; pass a first source hiring policy that makes sure companies receiving city incentives hire locally; address blight in neighborhoods, continue funding public safety and supporting community policing programs, and develop Economic Empowerment Zones to ensure that new projects are distributed evenly throughout the city.

Campaign: austinforbham.com