Montgomery mayoral candidates discuss plans to improve city

The four candidates vying to be Montgomery's mayor spoke at two forums this week, exploring ideas about improving the city.

The first forum was held Monday at the Hutchinson Missionary Baptist Church, and the second one was Thursday at the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Mayor Steven Reed was elected the city's first Black mayor in 2019 and is hoping for re-election. His opponents are Barrett Gilbreath, Victorrus Felder and Marcus McNeal.

“It’s great to be the mayor of your hometown," Reed said.

Gilbreath is an entrepreneur and real estate investor. He does not have a lot of political experience, but he said he thinks his approach as an outsider gives him a fresh take.

“I’m here because this place is home," Gilbreath said. "I’m here because I believe in its people. I’m here because I believe in its future."

Victorrus Felder has worked as a prison correctional officer for more than 15 years. This is Felder's second attempt at a bid for mayor. He also ran in 2019 and received 2% of the vote. He has made combatting crime his main priority.

‘My job is to unify the city, but my main priority would be to make the city safe," Felder said.

Marcus McNeal is the youngest candidate at 29. He is the CEO of Effervescent Ventures Inc., which includes a roadside service.

In both forums, all four candidates focused on reducing crime and the need to increase the number of police officers in the department.

Reed voiced his support for implementing a civilian review board, which he has pushed for since his first campaign.

McNeal also supported establishing such a board, but Felder and Gilbreath did not.

“I believe it’s important to put the review board in place," McNeal said.

Felder said that it is not the right time to create a civilian review board because the police department is so short-staffed.

The city should not “ridicule and criticize them even more," Felder said about police officers, stating that having a board would do so.

Gilbreath agreed.

“I think our police force is trained to act with integrity and professionalism," Gilbreath said, adding that the officers do not need a board interfering with their work.

McNeal and Gilbreath both advocated for having an open-door policy as mayor. They also focused on education.

McNeal wants to establish a separate school district for the city of Montgomery. Gilbreath wants to create a free pre-K program.

Reed touted the changes he has accomplished as mayor including helping to bring Montgomery Whitewater to the city. He also expanded on how important it is for the mayor to act as an advocate for civil rights, reflecting on the city's past as the birthplace of the civil rights movement.

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Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or on Twitter @gladlyalex.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Montgomery mayoral candidates discuss plans to improve city