Like UAB has helped change the image of Birmingham, Mayor William Bell said he hopes Amazon could do the same for Alabama.

About two hours after he and other officials announced Birmingham's intentions of bidding for Amazon's second corporate headquarters, Bell talked about the conservative state of Alabama's chances of securing the massive project.

He said Amazon founder and chief executive officer Jeff Bezos has a social conscience. "We are counting on that to help us (in our bid) from the standpoint of having Amazon here would change the (social) climate (here) tremendously over the next 10 to 15 years.

"I think that kind of impact is something that would be appealing to Mr. Bezos," Bell said.

Securing Amazon's new corporate headquarters would cause thousands of new people to move into the area, he said.

Amazon is expected to eventually employ 50,000 people at its second corporate headquarters.

Bell made his comments to AL.com after speaking to a group of students at Birmingham-Southern College on Monday afternoon. The event was sponsored by the BSC Black Student Union.

Bell's competitor in the mayoral runoff election, Randall Woodfin, addressed students at the college last week.

The runoff is Oct. 3.

Bell, who has served as mayor since 2010, spoke about his background and leadership experience. He has been involved in Birmingham politics for nearly 40 years.

He also answered questions from Birmingham-Southern College students and staff and a reporter.

Bell was 27 when he decided to venture into politics. He only earned 135 votes during his first run for City Council. "You really don't know what you are capable of doing until you do it," Bell said.

Bell said he was advised to volunteer in the community, and he began driving a van for the North Pratt Civic League on Saturdays. He said he was taught: "You have to crawl before you walk. You have to walk before you run."

Bell won a seat on the council in the next race.

Airport

When asked about the high cost of flights out of the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport compared to Atlanta, Bell said he is in the process of talking with airlines about expanding service, specifically international flights for executives at Mercedes-Benz.

"I can't say we are in the position where we are going to get something done, but they are talking to us," Bell said.

Birmingham isn't a hub, he said, and the city would need an airline willing to work with them.

Mercedes-Benz recently announced a $1 billion expansion at its Tuscaloosa manufacturing plant. Last week, the company also broke ground on a new Global Logistics Center and an after-sales North American hub in Bibb County.

Bell also said he is speaking with airlines about expanding their service in and out of Birmingham if the city were to secure an Amazon headquarters.

The mayor specifically mentioned speaking with Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa and Delta.

Amazon has said the home of the company's second headquarters must be within a 45-minute commute to an international airport.

Board of Education

Bell said he remains against having an elected school board. He also thinks the mayor should be the one to appoint the school superintendent.

When the board was changed many years ago to a board elected by district, Bell said he knew "putting politics into the educational system would be its downfall. I think you have seen the results of that."

Bell said there's been a "revolving door of superintendents. Our finances aren't what they should be."

To change the board back to an appointed one, though, would take an act of the Legislature, he said, and he doesn't see the legislative delegation supporting the move.

Bell said he wants to see a school superintendents receive an "ironclad" four-to-five year contract where they can't be fired unless they break the law.

Police force

Bell said he is working to alleviate the police officer shortage in the city. Right now, Birmingham police officers can retire after 20 years and collect their pension immediately. They can then move on and receive another position in another police jurisdiction, he said.

"This is presenting us with a challenge," Bell said, adding the he hopes the Legislature will pass a law changing the requirement.

Now, though, the police department can rehire police officers who have retired, he said.

And, the police department is going to start having two training sessions a year for recruits in order to double the amount of officers they train and hire each year. Bell admitted, though, that it's a challenge to find recruits who can pass all of the tests required to become an officer, including the drug test and a polygraph test.

He said cadets will lie on the polygraph about using drugs recreationally in the past.

"Lying about it will stop you from becoming a police officer," he said.

Advice for college students

Bell advised students not to be "bashful about stepping up to the plate" and volunteering or interning to gain favorable experience in their area of interest.

"Be willing to serve in whatever format that you choose, whether it is in your church, school or community," he said.