Hoover City Councilman Sam Swiney is endorsing Kenneth Cox to replace him on the council in Place 2.
Cox is a longtime coach, administrator, deacon of his church and renowned civic leader. In 2024, he was inducted into the Birmingham-Southern College Sports Hall of Fame.
The endorsement follows Swiney’s decision not to seek reelection, in which he said, “It’s also never a bad thing to have new blood on the council with fresh ideas. I’m really excited to see some very talented individuals step up and are willing to serve. I love Hoover and want to see our city be as successful as possible, and if that means stepping down to let someone else come in with a new perspective, I’m all for it.”
RELATED: Hoover Councilman Sam Swiney announces he will not seek reelection
“Serving on the Hoover City Council has been an incredible honor,” Swiney said in a statement endorsing Cox before explaining, “I have had the honor of calling Kenneth Cox a friend for the past eight years. I know Kenneth to be very loyal, trustworthy and honorable. He’s a huge asset to our city and is invested heavily.”
“Kenneth is the right choice to continue the policies that make Hoover an incredible place to raise a family. I hope you will join me in supporting Kenneth for his bid for Hoover City Council on August 26th!" he added.
RELATED: Kenneth Cox announces for Place 2 in the Hoover City Council race
Cox is a nationally recognized coach and administrator who has served in leadership roles at Birmingham-Southern College and on several local boards, including Leadership Hoover, the Hoover Parks & Recreation Foundation, and the Downtown Redevelopment Authority. He also helped manage the 2025 World Police & Fire Games, which were hosted in Birmingham this summer.
“Sam has led with purpose and humility,” said Cox. “I’m honored by his endorsement and excited to continue building on the progress he and the council have made. This race is about the future of our great city, and it’s important to me to have the backing of people that understand the crucial responsibility that the Hoover City Council carries. I intend to earn every vote I receive and pledge to make every resident of Hoover proud once elected.”
Swiney was elected in 2020, succeeding Gene Smith, who ran for mayor. Gene Smith is now one of four candidates, including Cox, who are vying for Place 2. The other two include Copeland Johnson and Clint Bircheat. Place 2 is one of three open seats on the Hoover City Council.
The City of Hoover has seven city council members elected "at-large." Municipal elections in Alabama are on a non-partisan basis. The 2025 election will be held on August 26. If a run-off election is necessary for Place 2, 3 or 4, it will be held on September 23. The members serve four-year terms, which begin on November 3.
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