Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin is not your typical politician. The 36-year-old lawyer won an unexpected upset over incumbent Mayor William Bell by invigorating a grassroots network of young voters with a progressive pitch that echoed Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign.
At his inauguration celebration, a DJ played funk and R&B while admirers lined up for a photo with their new mayor. He was mobbed on his way out, like a rockstar departing a club. During his campaign, some Woodfin supporters dubbed him “Mayor Bae.”
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But now that “Mayor Bae” is in office — he has to deliver on his promises to revolutionize the way city government works, and bring a fresh perspective to some of the city’s oldest problems. VICE News was with him on his first full day in office.
This segment originally aired December 1, 2017, on VICE News Tonight on HBO.
