Summary (Optional)
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Quick Summary
- Current Jefferson County Commissioner since 2018
- Previously served on Birmingham City Council
- Won the 2026 Democratic primary for re-election
This page uses public sources and stays neutral. You can check details in the links below.
Party: Democratic
Overview
Lashunda Scales is a county commissioner representing District 1 in Jefferson County, Alabama. She previously served on the Birmingham City Council and has held local elected office for over a decade.
This race is effectively a single-candidate contest in the current ballot cycle, meaning no opposing candidate is listed for District 1 at this time. That does not make the office less important: county commission seats help decide local spending on roads, public services, housing, and neighborhood development.
What She Did
Short version: key actions and why they may matter to your vote.
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Vacant lots and redevelopment
Action:
In recent county meetings, Scales pushed the commission to do more than tear down blighted properties. She asked officials to plan what would replace them and said unincorporated areas need more attention to redevelopment.
Why it matters:
That issue affects housing, neighborhood conditions, and whether vacant lots stay empty or become usable land again.
View reporting -
Public safety and county budgets
Action:
As a county commissioner, she has participated in budget and service decisions that touch law enforcement, fire services, and local public safety spending.
Why it matters:
Those choices can shape response times, staffing, and how much county funding goes to emergency services versus other needs.
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Roads, sewer, and basic services
Action:
District 1 county work includes oversight of roads, drainage, sewer issues, and other services that affect neighborhoods and long-term county infrastructure.
Why it matters:
These services affect daily life and can drive long-term costs for taxpayers.
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Neighborhood engagement
Action:
Scales has emphasized resident input, community meetings, and local development plans that respond to neighborhood needs instead of only taking a top-down approach.
Why it matters:
How the county listens to residents can affect what gets built, what gets fixed, and which areas get attention first.
View reporting
Experience
- Jefferson County Commission, District 1 (2018-present) (source)
- Birmingham City Council, District 1 (2009-2018) (source)
- Ran for Mayor of Birmingham (multiple election cycles) (source)
Additional context
This section includes public-record events, controversies, investigations, lawsuits, or other matters that received public attention and may be relevant to some voters. Inclusion does not suggest wrongdoing, guilt, or a conclusion about the candidate's fitness for office.
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2013 ethics and election-related case
While serving on the Birmingham City Council, LaShunda Scales was indicted on ethics and voter-related charges.
Issue:
Reporting said the case involved allegations that she used her public position for personal gain and improperly interacted with a voter at a polling place.
Outcome:
Scales entered a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor ethics violation and one count of interference with an elector. Court records cited in reporting state that the felony charges were dismissed with prejudice. She received a suspended sentence and probation.
View source
You may review the source above for more detail if this is important to your decision.
Things to Think About
- District 1 is effectively a single-candidate race in this cycle. Does that change how you evaluate the office?
- Do you prefer someone with long experience in local government?
- Are local development and county services important to you?
Sources
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