Alabama state Rep. Juandalynn Givan is starting off the new year by announcing her candidacy for Birmingham mayor.

Givan, a Democrat, told AL.com she has scheduled a press conference for Wednesday to officially make the announcement.

“The city of Birmingham needs to go back to being the Magic City. It is no longer the Magic City. It has lost its luster,” Givan said Tuesday.

The Birmingham-based state representative said she is running to address crime, decay and population decline in Birmingham.

“I am running for several reasons. I call it the three Ps: the people, the protection as well as progress,” said Givan.

“I’m running because I care about the people and because the city of Birmingham is in decay,” Givan continued, adding that she fielded multiple calls from people in law enforcement who asked her to run for mayor over the last several months. “The city of Birmingham in many areas is under siege because of the crime.”

Thirteen days before the end of 2024, the city broke its 91-year homicide record after reporting its 149th slaying.

Quality-of-life issues also sparked Givan’s interest in becoming mayor, she said.

“Look at the potholes, look at the streets .. certain areas in Birmingham that were areas that people used to love to drive down … they look like war zones,” she said. “It’s inexcusable.”

As mayor, Givan said she would dispel the notion of Birmingham as a “Tale of Two Cities” split between prosperity and poverty.

“It appears that Birmingham is divided in so many ways. You have Southside and the other sides,” she said. “I’m running because all sides should matter.”

Birmingham’s next mayoral election is scheduled for Aug. 26, 2025.

While Mayor Randall Woodfin has not definitively said he would seek a third term, he suggested in August 2023 it was likely he would do so.

“There is much more work to do for neighborhoods and infrastructure. If the people of Birmingham will have me I’m more than willing to continue to serve,” Woodfin said.

Givan, who doubles as a criminal defense attorney aside from her state legislative duties, also pointed to her experience working for three former Birmingham mayors — Richard Arrington, Jr., Bernard Kinkaid and William Bell — to prove she can do the job.

“I feel I’m just as qualified as anyone else,” she said. “May the best man or woman win.”