The two remaining candidates for Birmingham mayor painted two different pictures of the Magic City while addressing the Downtown Democrats Club on Friday afternoon.

The runoff between incumbent Mayor William Bell and Randall Woodfin, an outgoing member of the Birmingham Board of Education, is about four weeks away on Oct. 3.

Woodfin calls Birmingham "a tale of two cities." He tells the story of neighborhoods west of Interstate 65, and where he grew up in north Birmingham, that are filled with dilapidated houses and overgrown lots.

"You would see people not feeling safe on their own front porch, not feeling safe in their own front yard," he said. "You will see that too many people are unemployed in the city of Birmingham, and you would see a lot and feel a lot of frustration and concern out there in the city."

He said these residents aren't receiving the same attention and funding as downtown and Southside.

Bell paints a different picture.

The incumbent highlighted the progress the Magic City has experienced in the seven years he's served as mayor.

"We had boarded up buildings in downtown Birmingham (in 2010)," he said. "We had a deficit anywhere from $70 and $80 million. Our city government had a crisis of leadership. That is how I came to office is running in a special-election."

Bell spoke responding to the devastation in Pratt City moments after tornadoes touched down in 2011. He touted the rebuilding efforts he led, including the construction of a new fire station, library, senior citizen community and new houses.

He mentioned Regions Field and Railroad Park, which brings families to downtown, and the building of new apartments downtown. Bell said the Crossplex facility in west Birmingham attracts athletes from across the region. A new hotel is being constructed in Five Points West.

"Things are happening all over the city," he said. "All over this city you have growth and opportunity Do we still have pockets that need to be touched? Yes, we do."

If re-elected, Bell said he will continue "to build this city."

Woodfin contends that Birmingham is only experiencing "pocket growth," and all residents don't get to benefit from it.

"Several weeks ago, on Aug. 22, 63 percent of the voters, who voted in the election, said they wanted a different direction, said they wanted change," he said. "They said they wanted progress for the entire city."

Woodfin said Birmingham residents need mayor with a sense of urgency, a mayor that will allocate more city funds to the school and will take a different approach to fighting crime.

"We have a role to play in improving the quality of life for the people who live in the city of Birmingham," he said. "That is going to take a style of leadership that is collaborative and wants to work with the city council. It is going to take a sense of urgency and a willingness to put people first."