Roderick Royal to become new interim mayor of Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) – Roderick Royal was elected president of the Birmingham City Council Tuesday, replacing Carole Smitherman which means he will become Birmingham's third mayor in less than a month.

Royal was elected president of the city council by other council members shortly after the new city council was sworn in Tuesday morning.

He replaces Smitherman as president and interim mayor of Birmingham. Smitherman had served on the city council since 2001 and as city council president for the past four years. She became interim mayor of Birmingham immediately after Larry Langford was convicted on felony fraud and bribery charges earlier this month, removing him from office as mayor of Birmingham.

Steven Hoyt was elected President Pro Tempore.