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In the running

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Hoover’s Aug. 23 municipal election is guaranteed to usher in some new leaders for the next four years.

Two councilmen — Council President Jack Wright and retired Navy Adm. Jack Natter — announced late in the qualifying period that they are not seeking re-election. Meanwhile, Councilman Brian Skelton died on July 2, leaving a third seat vacant.

That means at least three spots on the council will be filled by newcomers, but all seven seats are contested this year.

The 19 candidates who qualified for mayor and council races have created the most crowded Hoover election ballot since 2004, when there were 33 candidates.

Mayor Gary Ivey has known since at least February that he is being challenged by former Hoover Fire Marshal Frank Brocato for the mayor’s job, but a third candidate entered the contest on the last day of qualifying on July 19.

Steve McClinton, a financial planner who has served as president of the Hoover City Schools Foundation the past two years, decided to put his name on the ballot for the city’s top job as well.

The most common themes among challengers, including Brocato and McClinton, are that the city of Hoover needs to increase its funding for Hoover schools and develop a comprehensive master plan to shape the city’s future.

Neither Brocato nor McClinton say they know yet how much more funding the city should give the school system, but both say they will do a better job of communicating with school officials and working with the community to come up with solutions.

Hoover schools Superintendent Kathy Murphy said the $85.6 million that Hoover schools received in fiscal 2007 from a Jefferson County bond issue has been spent. The school system’s fund balance by the end of this fiscal year is projected to be back to the $80 million that was there in 2006, Murphy said.

The school system has gained about 1,500 students since 2008, but revenues have dropped from $13,715 per student to $11,288 per student, financial reports show.

School officials are making cuts in staffing and programs to bring expenses more in line with revenues and reduce their operating deficit, but more funding challenges are coming as debt payments climb and the city adds more houses, Murphy said.

“It’s time for us to step up and invest our money and our time and our energies productively in the lives of our children,” she said.

Ivey has said he supports Hoover schools and noted the city increased education funding by $1.3 million in fiscal 2016. However, increasing funding for education more would require cutting money from somewhere else and he doesn’t want to hurt other city services, he said.

Polls on election day — Aug. 23 — will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The last day to register to vote is Aug. 8. If any runoffs are needed, they will be held on Oct. 4. Winners of this year’s election are scheduled to be sworn into office on Nov. 7.

WHO

Photo courtesy of Frank Brocato

Frank Brocato

Office sought: Hoover mayor

Age: 63

Residence: Ross Bridge; has lived in Hoover since 1973, except for a few years in Irondale in the mid-1970s.

Political experience: First run for public office

Professional experience: Served 42 years with the Hoover Fire Department; was the city’s first paramedic and first fire marshal; spent 24 years as head of emergency medical services and retired as fire marshal and chief of operations

Civic experience: Board of directors for Literacy Council of Central Alabama; was in Leadership Birmingham and Leadership Shelby County and now serves on advisory council for Leadership Birmingham; represented city of Hoover with United Way for many years; served on medical direction committee for Birmingham Regional Emergency Medical Services System and on state committees dealing with EMS issues

Education: Bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Birmingham-Southern College; associate’s degree in fire science from Jefferson State Community College

Main issues: Provide leadership and vision for the city; maintaining a great public safety program; increasing funding for Hoover schools; develop a master plan with input from city department heads, the city planner, landowners and neighborhoods; identify vulnerable pieces of land with incorrect zoning that could negatively impact neighborhoods and figure out what zoning is appropriate; create city center

Website/social media: frankbrocatoformayor.com; Frank Brocato for Hoover Mayor on Facebook

Gary Ivey (I)

Office sought: Hoover mayor

Age: 61

Residence: Riverchase; has lived in Hoover 33 years

Political experience: Has been Hoover’s mayor since September 2011, when he was appointed to fill the final year of Tony Petelos’ term; was unopposed for mayor in 2012; served seven years on Hoover City Council, all as president (elected in 2004 and ran without opposition in 2008) 

Professional experience: President and CEO of Crest Cadillac since 1989

Civic experience: Served eight years on Hoover’s Planning and Zoning Commission; trustee at Church of the Highlands; served on board of SafeHouse of Shelby County, a service center for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, for 12 years

Education: Attended Auburn University and Walker College

Main issues: Invest heavily in public safety to protect the physical safety of Hoover residents and first responders; invest in education; maintain conservative business practices to create an atmosphere where existing businesses can grow and where new companies want to relocate

Website/social media: mayorivey.com; Mayor Gary Ivey on Facebook

Steve McClinton

Office sought: Hoover mayor

Age: 47

Residence: Lake Cyrus; has lived in Hoover 18 years

Political experience: First run for public office 

Professional experience: Principal for the Security Financial Advisors retirement planning business in Bessemer the past three to four years; spent 20 years with Primerica

Civic experience: President of Hoover City Schools Foundation the past two years (now on leave of absence to run for mayor); co-founded Deer Valley Dads; served as president of Bumpus Middle School PTO for two years; serves on boards of directors for the Hoover YMCA and Hoover Helps nonprofit that works to provide food for needy children in Hoover schools; member at Hunter Street Baptist Church; has volunteered at Jimmie Hale Mission for 10 years

Education: Bachelor’s degree in sociology and criminology from Auburn University

Main issues: Refocus city’s attention on its school system and city planning; increase funding for Hoover schools; develop strategic master plan with input from elected officials, city staff, school officials, developers, builders and residents

Website/social media: onehoover.com; Steve McClinton for Hoover Mayor on Facebook

This bio was updated at 12:01 p.m. on Aug. 2 to correct McClinton's role at Security Financial Advisors.

Trey Lott

Office sought: Hoover Council, Place 1

Age: 61

Residence: Greystone; has lived in Hoover since 1976, except for a recent one-year stint in Alabaster

Political experience: Served more than 10 years on Hoover City Council (elected in 2004; no opposition in 2008; overcame one opponent in 2012; resigned from council in January 2015 when he moved to rented home in Alabaster; now is back in city) 

Professional experience: Started as chiropractor in 1983; added sports medicine in 1995; now owns and runs Lott Spine & Sports in Hoover

Civic experience: Council liaison to Hoover Parks and Recreation Board; member at Church of the Highlands; team doctor for numerous youth sports teams

Education: Doctorate in chiropractic from Texas Chiropractic College; doctorate from University of Alabama School of Medicine; bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of South Carolina

Main issues: Investing in public safety is highest priority; finding long-term financial solution to support Hoover City Schools; maintaining outstanding city services such as park and recreation offerings and the city library; improving council communication with the public

Website/social media: drtreylott.com; Dr. Trey Lott for Hoover City Council Place 1 on Facebook

Photo courtesy of Reagan Posey

Curt Posey

Office sought: Hoover Council, Place 1

Age: 39

Residence: Bluff Park; lifelong resident of Hoover

Political experience: First run for public office

Professional experience: supervisor for lecture center and 32 conference spaces at Children’s of Alabama hospital; previously worked three years as producer and editor for Diamond Studios in Birmingham and six years in studio production for WBRC Channel 6, WTTO Channel 21, WABM Channel 68 and WTVM Channel 13

Civic experience: Board of trustees chairman and recruitment advisor for Alpha Tau Omega fraternity at University of Alabama at Birmingham; teaches 2-year-olds in Sunday School at Hunter Street Baptist Church; volunteer performer with Birmingham Ballet; youth coach with Hoover Soccer Club; former Cahaba-Coosa chapter president of Alabama Society Sons of the American Revolution; applied for seat on Hoover school board in 2015 but was not appointed

Education: Bachelor’s degree in communications from University of Alabama at Birmingham

Main issues: Fostering open communication between residents and elected leaders; ensuring responsible, measured growth through growth management ordinances; increasing funding for Hoover schools 

Website/social media: curtposey.com; Curt Posey for Hoover City Council Place 1 on Facebook

Photo courtesy of Joe Rives

Joe Rives (I)

Office sought: Hoover Council, Place 1

Age: 74

Residence: Has lived off Patton Chapel Road for 46 years

Political experience: Appointed to Hoover City Council in February 2015 to replace Trey Lott; first time to seek election

Professional experience: Worked 34 years for BellSouth, specializing in computers, and then spent less than a year in computer project management for AmSouth Bank and 5 ½ years doing computer consulting before fully retiring about 11 years ago

Civic experience: Has been active at Shades Valley Presbyterian Church for 25 years and serves weekly with a Habitat for Humanity volunteer group from the church; spent past 11 years volunteering with the AARP Foundation to help with free tax return preparation, mostly for low-income and moderate-income people, at Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church

Education: Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from University of Tennessee

Main issues: Balance needs of all departments of the city and not give into demands of just one; make sure the city continues to be run well and maintains its AAA credit rating; make sure the new Hoover sports complex is a success

Website/social media: Joe Rives for Hoover City Council on Facebook

Gene Smith (I)

Office sought: Hoover Council, Place 2

Age: 59

Residence: Magnolia Grove; has lived in Hoover 48 years (since before it was a city)

Political experience: Twelve years on Hoover City Council (elected in 2004; no opposition in 2008 and 2012)

Professional experience: Owns short-term loan companies with 18 locations in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee; owns 40 percent stake in Hoover Tactical Firearms; worked 18 years for Hoover Fire Department

Civic experience: Served five years on Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission and about four years on University of Alabama at Birmingham 310 Mental Health Board

Education: Completed paramedic studies at University of Alabama at Birmingham; took some fire science courses

Main issues: Maintain financial stability of the city; improve public safety, particularly adding more firefighters to match city growth and improve fire insurance rating; support law enforcement with needed personnel, equipment and training; work with school officials to address education funding needs without letting city services suffer

Website/social media: GeneSmith2016.com; Gene Smith III on Facebook

Photo courtesy of Sam Swiney

Sam Swiney

Office sought: Hoover Council, Place 2

Age: 33

Residence: Bluff Park; has lived in Hoover three years

Political experience: First run for public office

Professional experience: Claims specialist with State Farm Insurance the past nine years

Civic experience: Attends Shades Mountain Baptist Church, where he has volunteered as a worship care leader; coaches 5-year-old T-ball team at Hoover Sports Park West

Education: Bachelor’s degree in justice sciences from University of Alabama at Birmingham

Main issues: Increase funding for Hoover City Schools; increase public engagement in city issues and attendance at council meetings; ensure smart, sustainable residential growth; work toward growth development plan that includes input from all facets of the community, including residents, the school system and police and fire departments

Website/social media: Sam Swiney on Facebook; @SamSwiney1 on Twitter

John Lyda (I)

Office sought: Hoover Council, Place 3

Age: 42

Residence: Green Valley; lived in Hoover 20 years

Political experience: Has served one four-year term on Hoover City Council; on board of directors for Mid-Alabama Republican Club; managed the successful campaigns of his father, John Lyda, for Jackson County Board of Education and his father’s unsuccessful bid for Jackson County probate judge

Professional experience: Operations manager in claims administration for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama; senior financial services manager, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Birmingham branch, 1996-1997

Civic experience: Four years on Hoover Library Board; past president of Hoover Metro Kiwanis Club and Hats and Horns Societe’; member of Friends of Hoover; serves on board of directors of Red Elephant club of Birmingham; Assistance League of Birmingham and Alabama Civil Justice Foundation; in Birmingham Business Journal’s 2012 class of “Top 40 under 40”

Education: Master’s degree in business administration from University of Alabama at Birmingham; bachelor’s degree in business administration from University of Alabama

Main issues: Helping the city sustain its economic vitality by luring more visitors to city and recruiting high tech/research companies to diversify the tax base; ensuring “smart” residential growth by negotiating with developers to decrease housing density; working with school leaders to address funding needs

Website/social media: electjohnlyda.com; John Lyda on Facebook; @johnlyda on Twitter

Arnold Singer

Office sought: Hoover Council, Place 3

Age: 79

Residence: Riverchase; has lived in Hoover more than eight years

Political experience: Ran unsuccessfully for Town Council in Edison, New Jersey, and twice for Edison Board of Education

Professional experience: Retired; previously was principal technical coordinator for Edison Township, and proprietor of AIM-UP, a company that wrote technical manuals; and produced custom software for small and medium-sized businesses and hardware/software systems

Civic experience: Board president for The ARC of Shelby County group that helps people with developmental disabilities; board member for Hoover Historical Society; vice president of programming for Friends of Hoover; member of Shelby County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster; regular attender of Hoover council, school board and library board meetings; former secretary for Hoover Metro Kiwanis Club; former stage manager for Celebrate Hoover Day; has volunteered at SEC Baseball Tournament and Regions Charity Golf Classic; assisted city of Hoover with U.S. Census; Alabama Civil War Roundtable board member

Education: Attended Hunter College and New York University Management Institute in New York City and Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York.

Main issues: Develop master plan for city; develop close and respectful but not rubber-stamp relationship with school board; increase funding for Hoover schools (sales tax increase of .0025 designated for schools); make sure city staff trained well enough to replace retiring top-level administrators.

Social media: Why Singer for Place 3? on Facebook

Photo by Jon Anderson

Michael Holt

Office sought: Hoover Council, Place 4

Age: 52

Residence: Russet Woods; lived in Hoover 15 years

Political experience: First run for public office

Professional experience: More than 20 years in industrial sales management, including jobs with Black Creek Integrated Systems, Mayer Electric Supply, Walden General Contractors, Schneider Electric and now Graybar Electric; adjunct instructor in electronics engineering at ITT Technical Institute in Bessemer; spent 11 years on active duty with the Army, 10 years with the reserves and one year with the National Guard, serving in both Gulf Wars, Bosnia, Korea, Germany, Egypt and Central and South America; retired from military in 2007 as sergeant major, earning Legion of Merit commendation

Civic experience: Has been the committee chairman of the Boy Scouts of America Troop 23 at Discovery United Methodist Church since 2011; member at Hunter Street Baptist Church

Education: Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from University of Alabama; nine credit hours left to earn master’s degree in business administration from University of Alabama at Birmingham

Main issues: Make the city’s new 124-acre sports complex and event center as profitable and successful as possible;; give school system 10 percent of city’s sales and use taxes ($6.9 million in 2015); make the school board elected rather than appointed; create citizens advisory committee to elicit more public participation; video public meetings and publish them online; add at least 10 more police officers

Website/social media: HoltforHoover.com; SGM Michael J. Holt-Ret. on Facebook; @SGMHolt on Twitter

Photo courtesy of Mike Shaw

Mike Shaw

Office sought: Hoover Council, Place 4

Age: 44

Residence: Loch Ridge; has lived in Hoover 15 years

Political experience: First run for public office

Professional experience: More than 20 years in information technology, including the past 10 years as chief technology officer and senior vice president for Mutual Savings Credit Union

Civic experience: Founding member of A2 church, where he has served in music ministry and co-led small group Bible study; served on Hoover school superintendent’s rezoning advisory board; treasurer of Birmingham chapter of Infragard organization that works with FBI to protect U.S. from hostile acts

Education: Bachelor’s degree in public administration from Auburn University in 1995

Main issues: Develop comprehensive city plan; re-evaluate school funding cuts the council made in the mid-2000s and restore cooperative relationship with school system; protect integrity of older neighborhoods with revamped housing ordinances, programs to help senior adults and low-income people better maintain homes, and upgraded infrastructure and amenities to more closely match newer neighborhoods

Website/social media: electmikeshaw.com; Mike Shaw for Hoover City Council on Facebook and @ElectMikeShaw on Twitter

Dan Ellis

Office sought: Hoover Council, Place 5

Age: 45

Residence: Trace Crossings; lived in Hoover 15 years

Political experience: First run for public office

Professional experience: Regional sales manager for Total Administrative Services Corp. (human resources services); 25 years experience in sales, including 15 years in mortgage industry; formerly ran his own mortgage company; other employers included Wachovia Bank and NCP Solutions

Civic experience: Former president of Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce; won fundraising Leadership Award from National Multiple Sclerosis Society; volunteer with American Heart Association Heart Ball; member of Hunter Street Baptist Church

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Georgia Southern University

Main issues: Continue and promote economic growth in Hoover; increase funding to Hoover City Schools; encourage moderate residential growth; attract more visitors to Hoover

Social media: votefordanellis.com; Dan Ellis for Hoover City Council on Facebook

Photo courtesy of Derrick Murphy

Derrick Murphy

Office sought: Hoover Council, Place 5

Age: 36

Residence: Ross Bridge; has lived in Hoover 11 years

Political experience: First run for public office

Professional experience: Client services and project manager for Gresham Smith & Partners engineering firm; worked for Birmingham Water Works Board from 2002 to 2015

Civic experience: Served five years on Hoover school board, including this past year as president; founded and organized Hoover City Dad Brigade back-to-school cleanup past two years; former member of Hoover Board of Zoning Adjustments; mentored eighth-grade boys in leadership skills through Alpha program at Bumpus Middle School; served on YMCA of Hoover board and Alabama Association of School Boards advisory committee; member at Hunter Street Baptist Church

Education: Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and master’s degree in engineering, focusing on construction management (both from University of Alabama at Birmingham).

Main issues: Ensure excellent schools; maintain standard of excellence with regard to public safety; keep Hoover’s momentum with smart, sustainable growth; work toward creation of citywide performing arts facility to provide large venue for live theater, musical performances, school productions and more

Website/social media: derrickmurphy.com; Derrick M. Murphy for Hoover City Council on Facebook; D_Murphy2016 on Twitter; d_murphy2016 on Instagram; Derrick Murphy on flickr

Photo courtesy of Jason DeLuca

Jason DeLuca

Office sought: Hoover Council, Place 6

Age: 32

Residence: Green Valley; lived in Hoover one year

Political experience: Ran unsuccessfully for Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee in 2014; was appointed to the state Executive Committee by Shelby County Republican Party, for which he served as secretary; former secretary for Greater Birmingham Young Republicans; has been involved with Young Republican Federation of Alabama and serves as adult advisor for Greater Birmingham Teenage Republicans

Professional experience: Manager at Homewood Suites by Hilton in Inverness; manager for Homewood Suites in Montgomery 2011-2014; manager of Fairfield Inn by Marriott in Inverness 2009-2011

Civic experience: Member of Hoover Metro Kiwanis Club; involved with Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce; started River Region Hotel Olympics in Montgomery (team-building competition that collected three tons of food for Central Alabama Food Bank)

Education: Bachelor’s degree in management from Auburn University in Montgomery

Main issues: Increasing funding for Hoover schools; ensuring transparency in city government to increase community engagement; making sure growth and development coincides with infrastructure, public safety and education needs; keeping business taxes low; supporting public safety; promoting Hoover as destination for meetings and events 

Website/social media: JasonJDeLuca.com; Jason DeLuca for Hoover City Council on Facebook

Photo by Belmont Studios

Casey Middlebrooks

Office sought: Hoover Council, Place 6

Age: 39

Residence: Ross Bridge since 2014; also lived in Hoover 1996-2000

Political experience: First run for public office

Professional experience: Librarian at Spain Park High School since 2010; librarian at Midfield High School 2007-2010; clerk at Hoover Public Library 1996-2007; was city of Hoover’s 1998-99 Employee of the Year

Civic experience: Volunteer with Lakeshore Foundation, Special Equestrians at Indian Springs School and Alabama Childhood Food Solutions

Education: Doctorate in leadership in educational administration from Capella University; master’s degree in library and information science from University of Alabama; bachelor’s degree in justice sciences from University of Alabama at Birmingham

Main issues: Restoring adequate funding to Hoover schools and cooperative relationship between the council and school system; creating a community-driven, comprehensive, strategic master plan for responsible growth and development; creating more transparent city government that promotes community involvement 

Website/social media: Dr. Casey Middlebrooks on Facebook

John Greene (I)

Office sought: Hoover Council, Place 7

Age: 64

Residence: Shades Mountain/Bluff Park; has lived in Hoover 33 years

Political experience: Has served eight years on Hoover City Council 

Professional experience: Fraud investigator with Travelers Insurance Investigative Services since 1999; Birmingham Police Department 1977-97 (retired as sergeant)

Civic experience: Member of Hunter Street Baptist Church, Hoover Historical Society, Friends of Hoover, Friends of Hoover Library, Friends of Shades Mountain, Hoover Metro Kiwanis Club, Hoover Veterans Committee and Hoover New Horizons senior citizens group; 40 years of service with U.S. Army, including National Guard, Reserve duty and 2½ years of active duty (retired as lieutenant colonel) 

Education: Master’s degree in education and bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, both from University of Alabama at Birmingham

Main issues: Listen to residents and vote according to their voices; ensure financial stability, purposeful planning and high quality of life for Hoover; bring school funding up to appropriate level to ensure excellence in education; increase collaboration between the council and residents and open discussion of all issues.

Photo courtesy of Robin Schultz

Robin Schultz

Office sought: Hoover Council, Place 7

Age: 54

Residence: Bluff Park; has lived in Hoover 28 years

Political experience: First run for public office

Professional experience: Owner of PC Medics of Alabama

Civic experience: Founded bluffparkal.org in 2006 to share information about and for the community; helped lead a push for a police substation and better police presence in Bluff Park; helped organized neighborhood watches with Hoover police; a leader in the effort to reverse Hoover school bus elimination; regularly attends school board and council meetings; unsuccessfully sought seat on Hoover school board earlier this year; youth baseball umpire at Hoover Sports Park West 1997-2007; taught youth Sunday school classes at Green Valley Baptist Church; founded Learning To Be The Light, which refurbishes computers and gives them to Hoover students from low-income families

Education: Microsoft systems engineer certification from New Horizons; has taken numerous information technology certification courses

Main issues: Increase funding for Hoover schools and transparency in city government

Website/social media: robinforhoover.com; Robin Schultz for Hoover City Council on Facebook; @robinforhoover on Twitter and Instagram

WHEN

WHERE

Polling locations:

Voter registration forms can be mailed in, and some of those forms are available for pickup at the Hoover Municipal Center, City Clerk Margie Handley said.

Most people in Hoover will vote at the same place where they vote during other elections as long as the voting location is in the city limits, Handley said.

People who normally vote at a polling place outside the city limits will be reassigned to another polling place for the municipal election, she said.

Handley said she plans to mail out forms to registered voters informing them of their polling places, but residents also may call the city clerk’s office at 444-7500 for election information.

HOW

Registering to vote:

First time: The last day to register to vote in municipal elections is Aug. 8. Voter registration is handled through county probate offices in Jefferson and Shelby counties, depending on residence. 

Applicants who are registering to vote for the first time must complete a State of Alabama Voter Registration Form and submit it to the county where they live. The applicant must provide a physical address — not a P.O. box — as well as their date of birth and an original signature. A State of Alabama Voter Registration Card will be mailed to the voter, and that will show the voter’s polling location.

Finding forms:  Voter registration forms can be found at the office of the Board of Registrars, licensing offices and public libraries. 

Verifying information:  Voters who are already registered to vote should make sure their information, including name and address if there has been a recent change, is up to date. Voter registration does not transfer between counties even within the same state, and any voters who have moved into Shelby County will have to complete a new registration. Name changes and changes of address within the county must be made in writing and forwarded to the board of registrars.

Voters can check that they are registered to vote by entering their last name, county and date of birth at alabamavotes.gov.

Qualifications:  To vote in a municipal election, such as Hoover’s election, a voter must live in the city for 30 days before registering to vote. 

Applications sent by mail should be postmarked before Aug. 10 and sent directly to the board of registrars.

Candidate Joel Smith withdrew from the race for Council Place 4.

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