Bessemer Mayoral Residency Case Returns to Court Ahead of Runoff Election
Bethel v. Gulley, et al will be reviewed Sept. 16
A court challenge concerning Bessemer Mayor Kenneth E. Gulley’s residency qualifications is scheduled for a status review Wednesday, September 16, just days before the city’s mayoral runoff election.
Senior Circuit Judge David J. Hobdy scheduled the proceeding for 9:15 AM in Courtroom 340 of the Bessemer Justice Center. The case is filed in the Jefferson County Circuit Court, Bessemer Division, as Bethel v. Gulley, et al., Case No. CV-2026-000082.00.
Darral Bethel, who is representing himself, filed the challenge questioning whether Gulley meets the residency requirements applicable to his 2026 mayoral candidacy. The allegations remain pending, and the court has not issued a final ruling on Gulley’s qualifications.
In an emergency motion, Bethel asks the court to address whether it has jurisdiction over the dispute and, if legally appropriate, determine the residency issue before the September 22 mayoral runoff.
The September 16 proceeding is identified in the court’s order as a status review, not a trial. A status review generally allows the judge to examine the case’s progress, pending motions and procedural issues before deciding what additional proceedings may be necessary.
Gulley is scheduled to face Louise Alexander in the September 22 runoff after neither candidate received the majority required to win the August mayoral election outright.
Hearing Information
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Time: 9:15 AM
Location: Courtroom 340, Bessemer Justice Center
Case: CV-2026-000082.00
The outcome of the status review and any subsequent court proceedings could determine how the residency challenge moves forward as the runoff approaches.
Kenneth E. Gulley should be presumed qualified unless and until a court or other authorized body determines otherwise. The article describes allegations contained in a pending legal action and does not state that those allegations have been proven.
