Bethel Calls for Probe, new Bessemer Mayoral Election

TL;DR: Former Bessemer mayoral candidate Darral Bethel is asking Jefferson County District Attorney Lynneice Washington and Sheriff Mark Pettway to investigate alleged misconduct surrounding Bessemer’s municipal election. Bethel continues to question whether residency requirements were met and argues that a court could order a new mayoral election if it finds an ineligible candidate took part. His earlier residency lawsuit was dismissed before the runoff for lack of sufficient evidence to establish a State-law violation. Louise Alexander defeated four-term Mayor Kenneth Gulley in Tuesday’s runoff, 2,376 votes to 1,981. Bethel’s allegations have not been proven in court.

Former Bessemer mayoral candidate Darral Bethel is calling for a law-enforcement investigation into the city’s troubled 2026 municipal election and says the courts should consider ordering a new mayoral election.

Bethel announced Tuesday that he has contacted Jefferson County District Attorney Lynneice Washington and Sheriff Mark Pettway regarding what he alleges was criminal conduct involving the court and election process.

No court or law-enforcement agency has found that criminal conduct occurred. Bethel is asking authorities to investigate his claims and determine whether any charges are warranted.

His latest move comes after an unusually contentious election season in Bessemer — one marked by delayed election results, misplaced election-data drives, a lawsuit over candidate residency and, ultimately, the defeat of four-term Mayor Kenneth Gulley.

Louise Alexander defeated Gulley in Tuesday’s runoff, becoming Bessemer’s first female mayor. Unofficial results showed Alexander with 2,376 votes, or about 54.5%, compared with Gulley’s 1,981 votes, or about 45.5%.

Bethel, however, argues that questions raised before the runoff have not been fully resolved.

At the heart of his complaint is the residency of candidates who took part in the Aug. 25 municipal election.

Bethel, who finished third in the first round, filed suit after the election questioning whether Gulley and fellow mayoral candidate Brenita Lewis met residency rules. The action also named City Clerk Wanda Taylor. Bethel had previously contacted the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office and filed a complaint with the Alabama Ethics Commission.

The original mayoral election was close. Gulley received 1,809 votes, Alexander received 1,644, Bethel received 466 and Lewis received 91, according to the final tally reported before the runoff. Neither Gulley nor Alexander won a majority, forcing the Sept. 22 rematch.

Bethel’s lawsuit sought a court review of whether Gulley met the residency requirements for the office.

Senior Circuit Judge David J. Hobdy held a status review Sept. 16 in Jefferson County Circuit Court’s Bessemer Division. The case was identified as Bethel v. Gulley, et al., CV-2026-000082.00.

The case was subsequently dismissed. Published reports said the judge found Bethel had not presented enough evidence to establish a violation of State law. The dismissal cleared the way for Gulley to remain on the runoff ballot against Alexander.

Gulley had rejected the residency claims before the runoff.

“That means absolutely nothing to me. I have been the mayor of this city for 16 years. This is the third time somebody has challenged that. If I was doing anything that wasn't above board, I welcome any investigation into me,” Gulley told WVTM earlier this month.

Bethel now contends evidence presented during the court proceedings raised a substantial question over whether the residency requirements for mayor were met. He wants Washington and Pettway to examine the matter, including when, if at all, the challenged officeholder failed to satisfy those requirements between qualification and the Sept. 22 runoff.

Bethel also argues that if a court ultimately finds the election legally invalid because an ineligible candidate participated, the results should be set aside and another election held.

Under the remedy Bethel is seeking, he says a new mayoral ballot should include himself and Alexander — provided both meet all legal qualifications and a court or other authorized body determines that such a remedy is allowed under Alabama law.

“The people of Bessemer should have the opportunity to choose their mayor from candidates who satisfy the residency and other qualifications required by law,” Bethel said Tuesday.

His allegations come against the backdrop of other problems surrounding Bessemer’s Aug. 25 election.

Results were not released on election night. City officials initially cited an “IT issue,” leaving candidates and voters waiting for numbers.

The confusion deepened when encrypted thumb drives containing election data were found inside sealed Record of Election boxes instead of being delivered to the Jefferson County Board of Registrars. The problem was significant because several contests were extremely close. The District 1 City Council race, for example, was separated by only two votes in the initial unofficial count.

Bethel’s earlier challenge did not claim those problems changed vote totals, nor did he allege voter fraud. His case instead focused on whether candidates met the legal qualifications to appear on the ballot.

Alexander’s runoff victory ended Gulley’s 16-year tenure as mayor. She is expected to take office in November after the election results are certified.

Bethel’s latest request could keep the legal fight alive even after the voters have chosen a new mayor.

For now, his claims remain allegations. Bethel is asking law enforcement and the courts to review the evidence, determine whether any laws were broken and decide whether further action — including a new election — is warranted.