James Douglas Stewart Jr. has over 31 years of experience in public and personal finances. He was employed at the United States Postal Service for 12 years as an accountant before embarking on a journey to teach individuals how to manage money by using biblical principles. He has currently served during the last seven years as the City Clerk for the City of Irondale, where his responsibilities are to administer a 25-million-dollar budget, to be the custodian of records about city affairs such as resolutions, ordinances, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, and revenue disbursements. Additionally, he is responsible for analyzing investment records and supervising the issuance of business licenses, permits, and car tags.

James is a graduate of Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Business in Accounting. He has currently completed 30 hours out of 42 hours in the Master of Public Administration program with a concentration in non-profits at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. He was also 1 out of 35 individuals selected after a competitive application process that included close to 100 applicants from 27 states to participate in the 2019 Government Finance Officers Association Leadership Academy.

Since James has become the City Clerk, he has been certified as a Certified Revenue Municipal Officer, a Court Magistrate by the Administrative Office of Courts for the State of Alabama, a Certified Alabama Planning and Zoning Official by the University of North Alabama- Alabama Planning Institute and as a Certified Governmental Accounting Technician by the Government Finance Officers Association.

James also served the City of Irondale as a Councilor for approximately 6 years, where he chaired the Finance and Library Committees and assisted on the Economic Development, Fire Department, Senior Citizens, Public Relations, and Public Works/Utilities Committees.

James has served on several boards at the local, state, and national government level. He is the President of the Irondale Downtown Redevelopment Authority. He was a member of the National League of Cities Community and Economic Development Committee and the Small Cities Steering Council. He also participated at the state level by serving as a member of their Community and Economic Development Committee.

James was a graduate of Leadership Birmingham class of 2010. He has received several public service awards and has attended two of the most prestigious universities in the country to study community and economic development. He was awarded a certificate from the Harvard University Divinity School Summer Leadership Institute for completing their Faith-Based Community Development Program in 2004. He also earned a certificate from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Business School for completing their Economic Development Program through the International Council of Shopping Centers. He received a Bronze Award for completing 16 hours of coursework in the National League of Cities Achievement Leadership Program. He also finished 80 hours of coursework in the Alabama League of Municipalities Advanced Certified Municipal Officers program.

James was the Pastor at The Lighthouse from 2010-2014. He currently attends Church of the Highlands where he is a Small Group Leader.

James and his wife, Kimberly, have been married and residents of the Stoneridge and Old Overton Trail communities which are in Irondale for approximately 29 years. They have two children; Jade (25) is a graduate of Columbia University Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing Program, and Christian (20) is majoring in Accounting at Birmingham Southern College.