Darral Bethel Initiates Legal Action Over Municipal-Election Residency Allegations
Filing names Kenneth Gulley, Brenita Lewis, and Wanda Taylor; claims remain subject to court review
Bessemer, AL — August 27, 2026 — Darral Bethel has initiated legal action naming Kenneth Gulley, Brenita Lewis, and Wanda Taylor (Wanda Taylor is the city hall clerk) in connection with allegations that they did not maintain residency within the city limits during the municipal election.
This announcement concerns legal action and allegations only. It does not represent a finding of wrongdoing, and no allegation should be treated as established fact unless and until determined through the court process.
Before filing this lawsuit, Darral Bethel did contact the Secretary of State Office. He was told to contact the Ethics Commission. Darral Bethel filed a complaint with the Ethics Commission. The Ethics Commission acknowledged the receipt of the complaint and stated that it was assigned to someone, but it may or may not be investigated.
Election Context
Kenneth Gulley is seeking reelection as mayor. The filing raises questions about the residency requirements and eligibility standards that may apply in a municipal election, while leaving those questions for the appropriate legal process to address.
The allegations concerning residency remain disputed and subject to the court process. This announcement does not assert a legal conclusion, determine eligibility, or state that any named individual violated election law.
The purpose of this release is to notify media and the public that a legal filing has been associated with these names and to identify the limited information reflected on the supplied receipt. It is not intended to replace the filing itself, summarize arguments not provided, or predict an outcome.
Receipt Details
The court-filing receipt shows a filing associated with “Darral Bethel vs. Kenneth Gulley, Brenita Lewis, Wanda Taylor.” The receipt is dated August 26, 2026.The receipt is identified here only as evidence of a filing transaction associated with the listed parties. It does not, by itself, prove the underlying residency allegations or establish the merits of any claim.
Statement from Darral Bethel
“Election integrity depends on accountability, careful review, and respect for the process. The courts should determine the facts, and the public should allow that process to proceed while relying on verified information rather than speculation,” said Darral Bethel.
Darral Bethel is a longtime Bessemer educator, school administrator and children’s author. He has worked in education for more than 25 years and served as an assistant principal at Bessemer City Middle School. Bethel is the author of Careers in Color, a children’s coloring book meant to help young students explore career and business goals. He and his wife, Onetha, who is also an educator, have two children, Sommer and Joshua, according to his author biography.
Bethel was a candidate for mayor of Bessemer in the city’s Aug. 25, 2026, municipal election.
