The Commission hosts Regional Event on Decatur December 16, 2025

Rep. Barbara Drummond’s life is a Mobile story, a story of deep commitment and action. Her journey through journalism, city and county administration, and the Alabama State Legislature has given her a unique and powerful understanding of this city – its promise, its challenges, and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Born and raised here, Rep. Drummond’s connection to Mobile is personal and profound. She was among the first wave of Black students to integrate Murphy High School, an experience that shaped her lifelong dedication to fairness and the belief that every Mobilian deserves a fair shot. That passion took her to the University of South Alabama, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and English.

Rep. Drummond began her career as a journalist at the Mobile Press-Register, spending 21 years telling our city’s stories. She didn’t just cover the news; she connected with the people behind it. Her reporting on all levels of government gave her an insider’s view of how the system works, and her popular weekly column made complex issues understandable, earning her a reputation as a bridge-builder who could bring diverse voices together.

Rep. Drummond’s desire to do more than report on Mobile led her to public service. She spent eleven years as Public Affairs and Community Services Director for the Mobile County Commission, where she worked closely with county leaders on vital projects like securing better school funding. In this role, she actively fought for the resources our community needed, like securing better school funding.

From 2005 to 2013, Rep. Drummond served as Executive Director of Administrative Services and Community Affairs for the City of Mobile, working directly with the Mayor and City Council. In this crucial role determining the city’s direction and operational effectiveness, she managed a large staff and a multi-million dollar budget, spearheading initiatives that continue to make a difference today. She created Mobile 311, putting city hall at residents’ fingertips; implemented Mobile CitiSmart to measure government performance and ensure accountability; launched a citywide Litter Awareness Campaign to promote cleanliness and civic pride; established an alert system reaching over 94,000 households for public safety; and created the annual State of the City event to foster communication. She was a force for progress, getting things done and making Mobile work better for its people.

Rep. Drummond has also been a passionate advocate for Mobile on a larger stage. She helped develop Mobile’s New Year’s Eve celebration, including the now-famous Moon Pie Drop. She also served on the board of directors for BayFest, helping to revitalize the music festival and boost Mobile’s cultural scene. And she played a key role in recruiting Airbus and other major businesses to Mobile, understanding that good jobs are the foundation of a strong community.

In 2014, Rep. Drummond was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives, where she continues to serve as a powerful voice for Mobile in the state capital. Her work in the legislature has focused on strengthening families and neighborhoods, fighting for the resources Mobile needs, and ensuring our voices are heard in Montgomery. She has consistently championed practical solutions for Mobile, sponsoring and passing key legislation to give the city enhanced tools to address blight, overgrown lots, and abandoned debris (HB99, 2015; HB430, 2017; HB104, 2025). Recognizing the importance of economic opportunity, she successfully passed legislation supporting minority and women-owned businesses by requiring better state data collection (HB172, 2021) and championed bills removing barriers for professions like natural hair styling (HB262, 2017). Committed to public health and safety, she was the driving force behind the recently signed law (HB8, 2025) to combat the youth vaping epidemic by strengthening regulations and funding enforcement, building on her earlier work raising the legal age for tobacco products.

Currently, Rep. Drummond serves as Chair of the Mobile Area Water and Sewer Board, the largest water utility in Mobile County. In this role, she oversees a vital service that impacts every home and business in our city, demonstrating her ability to manage complex challenges and ensure the well-being of Mobile’s residents. She understands that reliable infrastructure is essential for our city’s future.

Rep. Barbara Drummond’s career is a testament to her unwavering commitment to Mobile. She’s a proven leader with a heart for this city and a track record of bringing people together to get things done.