Former school board president Murphy to take on council president in Aug. 23 election

Former Hoover school board President Derrick Murphy has decided to run against Hoover Council President Jack Wright in the Aug. 23 city election.

Murphy, who first announced he was running for City Council in late January, said selecting which place on the council to pursue was not a science but rather a choice he made based on his skills as a leader, collaborator and a person who takes initiative.

Wright is the longest-serving member of the council, having been in office for 20 years.

Update: Wright announced on July 18 that he would not seek re-election, and on July 19, Dan Ellis qualified to run for Wright's Place 5 on the council as well.

Murphy said he has the experience in strategic planning, community engagement and innovative ideas needed to manage sustainable growth as Hoover approaches 2020.

“I will make a commitment to regularly communicate with our school district, our planning and zoning board and our community to develop strategies that meet the needs of today without compromising the quality of life for future generations,” Murphy said in a news release.

Read more about Murphy, his background and his priorities for Hoover here.

See the complete list of candidates for Hoover mayor and City Council here. Qualifying ended July 19.