Former Birmingham mayoral candidate Chris Woods is endorsing Randall Woodfin in the Oct. 3 runoff with incumbent Mayor William Bell.

"I want a Birmingham that has transparency at city hall, Woods, a contractor, said in a statement on his Facebook page. "I want a Birmingham that creates opportunities for small businesses to grow. I want Birmingham that invests heavily in its school system and neighborhoods.

"After a great deal of prayer and consideration, I have decided to endorse Mr. Woodfin for mayor of Birmingham," he continued. "I believe that Mr. Woodfin's integrity closely mirrors my own and I believe that in order to effectively serve this city, you must truly love the people in it, and while we are all imperfect, I am convinced that Mr. Woodfin truly loves the people in Birmingham. I have met with him and have been impressed by how prepared he is to serve effectively as Mayor from both a policy and leadership perspective."

Woods officially made his announcement at a 3 p.m. press conference at The Harbert Center downtown. He declined to make a comment to AL.com prior to the event.

Woodfin's campaign livestreamed the press conference here.

Woods said that transparent government is not just about keeping an eye on city dollars and the way it is spent, "but streamlining services and having the residents (be) a priorty."

"People should not have to beg for city services," Woods said.

Woods said that Woodfin is a man of integrity who will support education, help develop small businesses, and make fighting crime a priority.

Woodfin thanked Woods. He said he and Woods had similar views on issues.

Sixty-three percent of Birmingham voters did not mark their ballots for Bell, Woodfin said. "Sixty-three percent of the voters that came out said they want a new direction," he said.

Woodfin said that it is time for a different way to address crime, a better way to invest in neighborhood revitalization and "it is time to move past paving streets and addressing these issues only during an election year and it is time to invest more in employees, not just on an election year but every year."

Birmingham residents also want a city council and a mayor who will work with that body to address the issues, Woodfin said. He pledged to work with the council if elected mayor.

Woods came in third place in the mayor's race earning 18.14 percent of the vote in the Aug. 22 municipal election.

Woods, a former receiver for Auburn football, has been a vocal critic of Bell and alleged corruption in Birmingham politics.

Woods, the owner of C.W. Woods Contracting Services Inc., won a wrongful termination lawsuit against the city of Birmingham in September 2015. He was paid a $2.58 million judgment in October 2016.

Woods claimed he was wrongfully fired in August 2012 and wasn't paid for three construction projects he was hired to complete by former Mayor Larry Langford. The work included the city's West Police Precinct, the Fountain Heights Recreation Center and the Negro Southern League Museum.

In November 2016, Woods publicly accused the leadership of the Birmingham Construction Industry Authority of corruption. He claimed BCIA Executive Director Michael Bell and Associate Director David Merrida came into his office in early 2012 and told him he was going to be replaced on city projects if he didn't "pay to play."

Michael Bell, who is the brother of Mayor Bell, sued woods for slander in early 2017.

In an interview with AL.com, Woods also claimed Mayor Bell threatened him with violence in 2012.

Woodfin, 36, is receiving national attention for his progressive campaign. He's earned endorsements from national groups like Our Revolution, a political action organization spun out of Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign.

Other former mayoral candidates, Fernandez "Brother" Sims and Patricia Sims have endorsed Woodfin in the race.