Army vs. Navy race emerges for Hoover City Council Place 4

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July 15 Update: Councilman Jack Natter said on July 15 he had changed his mind and decided not to seek re-election.

It looks like it will be Army veteran vs. Navy veteran in the race for Hoover City Council Place 4.

Michael Holt, who in January announced his intention to run for Hoover City Council Place 1, on late Thursday said he has changed his mind and will run for Hoover Council Place 4 instead.

That means Holt would take on retired Navy Adm. Jack Natter instead of Joe Rives. Other candidates for Place 4 include Mike Shaw and Joel Smith.

“As a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Army, I feel like I am the most qualified to candidate to take on such a decorated incumbent,” Holt said in a Facebook post Thursday. “Admiral Natter served his count(r)y well in the U.S. Navy, but unfortunately he has been part of the Old Guard,” Holt said. “I believe with the direction the community is making known and wanting new and fresh solutions to problems, I can be the one to lead us there … We want an outstanding veteran community in Hoover, and I will continue to support, serve and be a part of them. This is now a veteran-to-veteran race, and may the best man win on August 23.”

Natter served on active duty and in the reserves of the U.S. Navy from 1962 to 1998. Notable assignments included being a deputy director of the U.S. Naval Reserve in Washington and deputy for the commander of the Naval forces in Europe. He retired as a rear admiral.

Holt served a total of 22 years in the Army, including 11 years on active duty, 10 years in the reserves and one year with the National Guard. His specialty was intelligence, and he served in both Gulf Wars, Bosnia, Korea, Germany, Egypt and Central and South America. He retired from the military in 2007 as a sergeant major, earning the Legion of Merit commendation.

Holt said he initially had his heart and mind set on Place 1 but decided to listen to others in the community who asked him to pursue a different seat on the council. With Bluff Park resident Curt Posey already challenging Rives for Place 1 and former Hoover Councilman Trey Lott saying he intends to seek his former Place 1 seat again, there already are three other candidates in that race, Holt noted.

“I feel like it is not only in my best interest, but Hoover’s as well to switch places,” Holt said.

See the final and complete list of all candidates who qualified to run for Hoover mayor or City Council seats in the Aug. 23 election here. Official qualifying ended July 19.

This article was updated on July 19 after Joel Smith qualified to run for Place 4.