A new Birmingham mayoral candidate is making his name known to the public through social media, and using the slogan, “Bringing Birmingham Back.”

Jerimy Littlepage, 25, a Birmingham native, currently works as a forklifter for Ventura Foods, but is aiming to be the next young mayor of Birmingham.

Littlepage said he grew up in various parts of the city – North Birmingham, Collegeville, Evergreen Bottom, Kingston, Ensley, Wylam, West End, Titusville. He moved around due to lack of funds, and not being able to find stable housing options.

Before graduating from Parker High School in 2018, he worked at Arby’s and had the chance to meet the then newly elected Mayor Randall Woodfin.

“I met Mayor Woodfin in 2017 and I didn’t know you could be young and be mayor of Birmingham, and I had never met a mayor before,” Littlepage said. “I brought him his food and we talked. He didn’t brush me off, and he told me I can run for mayor, and that inspired me so much.”

Littlepage made it clear that he doesn’t have a problem with Woodfin, he just thinks his time as mayor has come to an end.

“I really prefer or want him to take care of his family. He got a new baby. He said himself he believes in term limits, and only do eight years,” Littlepage said.

Littlepage has never worked in civic or public office. However, he told AL.com that he was vice president of the Student Government Association at Parker High School.

“I have taught financial literacy to kids across the city. I also do a lot of work in assisting the elderly,” he said.

His original plan was to wait until his 30s to run for public office, starting on the city council level.

Now that he’s running for mayor, Littlepage said he is focusing on three things in his campaign: crime, housing affordability, and mental health care.

“The city is so messed up right now. We’ve been in a bad position for a long time. I’m running for office because I realized as an adult how hard life is,” he said. “The new apartments downtown are over $1,200. The only people who own their homes are the elderly. My generation can’t afford homes. We’re not buying homes and people are moving out of the city to be able to afford homes.”

When he was growing up, Littlepage said he used to hang out outside, riding bikes in the neighborhoods. Now he doesn’t see that anymore.

“I asked my neighbor why kids aren’t outside anymore. I was told that people are scared of getting shot, and that just broke my heart,” Littlepage said.

The young mayoral candidate believes that many people in the city are suffering from the trauma of losing kids and grandkids.

“No one is checking on these people and seeing how they’re doing, and instead get looked down on,” Littlepage explained.

Littlepage said one of his favorite things about the city is the food, naming Green Acres, Morrow’s Wings and Things, Yo’ Mama’s, and Southern Caribbean as among his favorites.

“My vision for the new Birmingham is to highlight small business owners. There’s a lot of people who can grow their business and put a spotlight on them. I don’t just want to talk about the murders and who got killed. I want to talk about the Birmingham Promise that’s helped the kids,” Littlepage told AL.com.

When asked about the chances of him winning against seasoned politicians, Littlepage said, “I’m very aware of how it sounds crazy to other people, but I believe I really have a chance. I have the community supporting me. I’m not trying to get in the middle of the back and forth that Woodfin and Givan have.”

He said that trying to win Birmingham’s mayoral election is bigger than his own personal desires and that he keeps God in the center of his decisions. He also said he’s been planning to run for years.

“I know I don’t have a college degree, but I have the people behind me, and I can rally those people up,” Littlepage said.

Littlepage is now a part of the ongoing list of candidates who are running for the city’s highest office. Woodfin, State Representative Juandalynn Givan, and activist Kamau Afrika have already officially announced their intentions to run.

Littlepage has not yet disclosed the financial records that are required to run for office with the secretary of state. He said that since starting his campaign on December 27th, he has raised about $2,000.

The Birmingham city clerk, Lee Frazier, said that qualifications for mayoral candidates open on June 27, which is 60 days before election day.

The Birmingham mayoral election will take place August 26, 2025.