Steven Reed (mayor)

Steven L. Reed (born 1974) is an American jurist and politician serving as the Mayor of Montgomery, Alabama. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a probate judge in Montgomery County.

Not to be confused with Stephen R. Reed, former mayor of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Steven L. Reed
57th Mayor of Montgomery
Assumed office
November 12, 2019
Preceded byTodd Strange
Personal details
Born1973 or 1974 (age 46–47)[1]
Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationMorehouse College (BA)
Vanderbilt University (MBA)
Signature

Early life and education

Steven L. Reed[2] was born in Montgomery, Alabama to Joe and Mollie Reed (née Perry) as one of three children. His father, Joe, served as one of the first class of elected members of the Montgomery City Council from 1975 to 1999. Steven Reed earned a Bachelor of Arts from Morehouse College and a Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University.

Reed is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, having been initiated into its Theta Alpha graduate chapter in 1998.[3]

Early career

He was a financial analyst, then changed careers and lobbied the Alabama legislature, and worked for Lieutenant Governor Jim Folsom Jr.

Reed was elected as probate judge in 2012, the first African American in that position.[4] In February 2015 he was the first probate judge in the state of Alabama[5] who started issuing same-sex marriage licenses[4] after district judge Callie V. Granade struck the state's ban on same-sex marriage, defying Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore.[6][7] In March 2015, after a ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court, he stopped issuing them.[5]

Mayor of Montgomery

Reed ran for mayor of Montgomery in the 2019 election, and defeated his opponent David Woods in a runoff.[8] Upon taking office, Reed became the first African-American mayor of Montgomery since its incorporation in 1819. He was officially sworn in as Mayor on November 12, 2019.[9] Prior to being sworn in, Reed took part in a prayer service at the historic Dexter Avenue Baptist Church,[9] which gained notoriety at the start of the Civil rights movement for leading the Montgomery bus boycott.[10]

References
  1. "Alabama capital elects first black mayor in 200-year history". Associated Press. October 9, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  2. Plott, Elaina (December 25, 2020). "For a Civil Rights Hero, 90, a New Battle Unfolds on His Childhood Street". The New York Times. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  3. "Omega Psi Phi's Steven Reed Was Just Elected The First Black Mayor of Montgomery, Alabama". Watch The Yard. October 10, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  4. Fausset, Richard; Perez-Pena, Richard; Wolfe, Kalyn (February 10, 2015). "Federal Judge Sets Hearing in Alabama on Same-Sex Marriage". The New York Times. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  5. Moon, Josh Rick Harmon (March 4, 2015). "County Probate office won't issue same-sex marriage licenses". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  6. MacNeal, Caitlyn (February 15, 2015). "Ala. Probate Judge Knocks Chief Justice: I'm On 'Right Side Of History'". Talking Points Memo. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  7. Edgemon, Erin (February 16, 2015). "Chief Justice Roy Moore's defiance to federal government 'places Alabama a step backwards,' says Montgomery probate judge". The Birmingham News. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  8. MacNeil, Sara (August 27, 2019). "Steven Reed, David Woods head to runoff for Montgomery mayor". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  9. "Steven Reed sworn-in as Montgomery's first black mayor". WSFA. November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  10. "Dexter Avenue Baptist Church". NPS.gov. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
Political offices
Preceded by
Todd Strange		 Mayor of Montgomery
2019–present		 Incumbent
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