HOOVER — Nick Derzis launched his campaign with a message of optimism and a promise to "Make Hoover Hoover Again." On the campaign trail, he discussed his affection for Hoover, emphasizing that he believed it was time to move the city forward with fresh energy and new ideas.
Thursday afternoon, he said, "The energy that I was hoping that I would see, I have seen the last week, everywhere I go."
In an in-person interview, Derzis shared his experience on the campaign trail, described his election night celebration and outlined his priorities for the time leading up to his swearing-in.
He described some of the recent changes he's experienced on a personal level, saying, "[As] police chief for 20 years, and sometimes people say something to you. Now that I'm the mayor-elect, everybody talks to you. So that's a little bit different."
Derzis recalled the energy and positivity of his victory party, saying that over 500 people are estimated to have dropped in to celebrate and congratulate him.
"It just showed me that people really wanted change. And they got what they asked for," he said.
Derzis received 9,676 votes (56%) to Brocato's 7,749 votes (44%).
His transition team held its first meeting last Wednesday evening.
"You know, what was fun? To see the transition team, and then after about 30 minutes, the committees all went to different sections of a huge conference room…and started talking, getting ideas," he said.
RELATED: Hoover Mayor-elect Nick Derzis announces transition team
The various committees will hold their own meetings once or twice a week, with transition leadership meeting regularly. The chairman of Derzis's committee is Michael Davis, and the co-chairman is BJ Ellis.
"So two great guys who know what they're doing, and we'll keep everybody focused on what they're supposed to do," he said.
Charlie Waldrop is acting as legal counsel for the transition.
The full team includes eight committees, focusing on education and workforce development, public safety, economic growth, infrastructure, fiscal accountability, parks and recreation, and quality of life.
Derzis' wife, Stephanie, was his constant companion during the campaign. When asked about her response to the election and incoming role as the new First Lady of Hoover, he said, "She's very excited." Describing their long nights over the last month campaigning, she said, "Every night, seven days a week, there was at least one or two functions we went to."
"It was a lot of work…She knocked on thousands of doors," Derzis said.
"One thing I'll say about her, she is a good person." He said that she's looking to "do some things that haven't been done before, some charitable type things that she's even already talked to me about, that she wants to carve a niche for herself. And I think that's exciting."
"She's got some great ideas and will work hard to make Hoover what it is and better," he said confidently.
Derzis entered the race with a clearer picture than most first-time candidates, having decades of experience attending city council meetings and knowing the challenges and opportunities before the city.
When asked if any issues surprised him during the campaign, he said, "Stormwater was a lot worse than what I thought."
He described learning about the impact that increasing growth and development have had on existing homeowners, saying he visited homeowners to hear their stories and see their properties.
One such homeowner, Sgt. Amos Benjamin, a retired USMC, shared his story with Derzis and later went public with his experience.
RELATED: Sgt. Amos Benjamin: A Hoover combat veteran's plea for help was repeatedly ignored — Until now
"Derzis didn't just listen – he came to our property, saw the damage firsthand, and promised to help whether elected or not, giving us a measure of hope," Benjamin wrote.
Derzis has committed to looking at what options are available for the city and to look at what can be done to make sure the city is taking care of what it's responsible for and that developers are held accountable for problems they create, saying he would "look and see if the ordinances that we have to make sure they have teeth in them. If a developer is not doing what they should do, you know what action we can take as a city."
Transparency has been one of the most significant issues of the campaign and election season, with Derzis stating that he's committed to ensuring the council and residents are involved in the decision-making process in the future. "That was something that was overwhelming too, that people didn't think that city was transparent at all, that, open government, it seemed like there were just a few people who knew things, not everybody, the council was left out of a lot of decisions."
He also stated that he will be supportive of the incoming city council's efforts to request a state audit of the city's finances. Saying, "The bottom line is taking over; we've got a very large budget, and I don't think anybody would take any business over unless they knew exactly where the finances were. You know, if we get a good audit and everything is great, fantastic. At least day one, we know where we are. And until that happens, we're not going to be comfortable with it."
"I know several of the council members signed a document that they wanted that audit, and I concur 100%. We've got to find out where our starting point is, and if it's the state, we'll talk with the state. But absolutely, I'm 100% in favor of seeing where we are."
Both incoming and incumbent members of the council have expressed concern over lingering questions following the forensic review that the city undertook last year, with a number of them signing onto a letter circulated by incoming councilman Robin Schultz, stating that one of the incoming council's priorities will be to request an audit by the state.
Multiple city councilors have expressed concerns about the rising cost of the city's legal fees in recent years and the legality of contracts entered into by the city attorney without council approval.
"I said, to begin with, as a mayor, with the council, we're going to work together. We're not going to see the spintered things that I've seen upstairs for the last several years," Derzis said.
"There has been some bickering that I just... Yeah, I don't understand, but, you know, the bottom line is we're all connected to be the voice of the people."
Derzis is scheduled to be sworn in on November 3.
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