Mountain Brook May Move City Elections

MOUNTAIN BROOK, AL — Mountain Brook's municipal elections occur in off years, a distinction the city shares with 10 other cities in Alabama. However, that may change.

The Mountain Brook City Council Tuesday voted to ask state legislators to pass a bill in early 2022 that will allow Mountain Brook to change its election cycle so it will track all other municipal elections in the state.

Of the 460 municipalities in Alabama, 449 elect all members of their governing body every four years, coincides with presidential elections. Nine cities in Alabama currently have “off-year” elections: Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, Mobile, Auburn, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden, Bessemer and Dothan.

The other two cities, Mountain Brook and Scottsboro, have staggered elections. Both cities sought and obtained special legislation to hold biennial elections in order to ensure the continuity of experienced elected officials and minimize the risk of having a complete change of the governing body in one year. Mountain Brook changed its elections to staggered terms in 2004.

Because of this, some additional adjustments would have to made if the city wants to change its elections years.

"This change requires adding a fifth year to the terms of all the current members of the governing body, extending their terms to 2023 and 2025 when elections would be held next for four-year terms," city manager Sam Gaston said. "This would move the election of the mayor and two council members off presidential election cycles. Scottsboro is also seeking this change from their local state legislators. If this legislation does not pass, then Mountain Brook, and possibly Scottsboro, would be the only two cities in Alabama with elections during the presidential election cycle."