Now Birmingham can begin process of healing

NOW THAT Larry Langford has been convicted of taking cash, clothes and watches as bribes, not to mention filing false tax returns, the city of Birmingham can begin to recover from his short but volatile time as mayor.

Mr. Langford's downfall was rapid Wednesday afternoon. A federal jury in Tuscaloosa took less than two hours to find him guilty of 60 counts of bribery, money laundering, conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and filing a false tax return.

Birmingham City Council President Carole Smitherman immediately became mayor.

The charges stemmed from Mr. Langford's term as president of the Jefferson County Commission, before he was elected mayor in 2007. He was convicted of receiving cash and goods totaling about $236,000 from investment banker Bill Blount and lobbyist Al Pierre, both of whom pleaded guilty.

Mr. Langford has done incalculable damage not just to Birmingham and the rest of Jefferson County, but to all of Alabama. When the mayor of Alabama's largest city is found guilty of taking clothes and cash as bribes, it's national news.

The economy will improve, but when it does, investors interested in doing business in Alabama may well fear that the whole state is as cor rupt as Jefferson County.

Mr. Langford has also done his part to bring Jefferson County to the brink of bankruptcy. The money, clothes, watches and other goods were bribes in connection with sewer bond deals that put the county deeply in debt.

In his short time as mayor, his outrageous public statements and behavior too often did more harm than good.

Now, Birmingham must begin healing while dealing the possibility of having four mayors before the end of the year: With Mr. Langford's conviction, Ms. Smitherman took over because she was president of the City Council. But city elections are coming up and the new City Council may appoint a new council president, who would then become acting mayor on Nov. 24. Meanwhile, a new election for mayor is expected within 30 to 45 days.

As candidates campaign and those elected work through what may be multiple transitions in municipal government, cooperating with one another and doing what's best for the city must be their top priorities. They must present a united message to the nation: that Birmingham has begun to change for the better.

Larry Langford, meanwhile, may be spending the rest of life in prison. He said the trial had interrupted his Bible study. He'll have plenty of time for that now.