Tag: HOOVER

Fraud, mismanagement, abuse, lack of policies and controls, understaffing and overspending are just some of the findings reported in the four financial audits that have led to major shakeups in Hoover, Helena and Homewood.

With the qualifying period closed, at least three members of the Hoover City Council will be vacating their seats. Curt Posey, Sam Swiney, and John Lyda chose not to run for reelection.

Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis picked up two high-profile law and order endorsements last week in his bid to replace incumbent Mayor Frank Brocato, gaining the public support of Attorney General Steve Marshall and Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr at a campaign event.

According to officials with the City of Hoover, the Islamic Academy of Alabama has withdrawn the application for a zoning change that would have allowed the school to relocate from Homewood to Meadowbrook Corporate Park.

Residents of the Meadowbrook community in Hoover have started a Change.org petition asking the city to deny the Islamic Academy of Alabama's request to relocate from Homewood to Meadowbrook Corporate Park.

By prioritizing education and smart growth, Hoover can remain Alabama’s premier city, where families thrive, businesses prosper, and children dream big.

In a video message posted May 8, 2025, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato seemingly took credit for the best of Hoover without addressing any significant concerns facing the city in the launch of his reelection campaign.

In a written statement, Swiney said, "I have decided not to seek reelection this August. I came to this decision a couple of months ago. It has been an absolute honor representing the people of Hoover over the last 5 years."

One year ago this week, Hoover City Councilor Steve McClinton proposed removing Council president John Lyda from his leadership position and replacing him with Councilman Casey Middlebrooks. Of the six members on the council present that evening, only one voted against the motion to vacate.

The 2025 municipal election season is underway, and new and incumbent candidates around the state have hit the campaign trail, working to win votes and raise money.

Four of seven councilmen have endorsed Derzis in his effort to unseat incumbent mayor Frank Brocato, with two council members saying they'll stay neutral and one who did not respond to a request for comment.

Hoover City Council meetings can be described in many ways, but boring is rarely one of them. This week’s meeting was no exception.  

Hoover City Council president pro-tempore Curt Posey will not seek reelection for a third term.

As with many Hoover City Council meetings held over the past year, the hour-and-a-half-long discussion included several heated exchanges, interruptions and accusations of failed leadership.

Fourty-year Hoover resident and former Councilwoman Donna Mazur is running to return to the Hoover City Council. Mazur previously served on the council from 2000 to 2004.

Jefferson County Commissioner Judge Mike Bolin told 1819 News that his father was his hero. Bolin fondly recalled his father pointing out the type of men he wanted his son to look up to and aspire to be, telling him to “be a man’s man.” A man of honor and integrity. Bolin said that’s exactly the kind of man that Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis is, “a man’s man.”

In an exclusive interview with 1819 News before his press event, Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis kept a positive and hopeful tone saying, “I am announcing my candidacy for mayor of our great city."

The City of Hoover is abuzz as images of a new billboard sponsored by the group Our Hoover circulate. In a campaign that went live this week, the digital billboard reads, "Change is Coming” with a countdown to the August 26 municipal election.

In what might be one of the final chapters of the Hoover Forensic Audit, the outside firm hired by the city attorney has returned answers to nearly 100 questions. 

Campaign finance reporting allows residents to “follow the money,” and that’s what Hoover resident Ken King was trying to do when he went online to inspect the annual reports of Mayor Frank Brocato and City Council President John Lyda.

After a relatively brief hiatus, Gene Smith is looking to reclaim his spot on the Hoover City Council. He said he's focused on keeping promises and building on the work he started when he previously served.

Hoover City Councilman Casey Middlebrooks announced, “It has been an honor to serve on the Hoover City Council, and I humbly ask for your continued trust and support as I seek reelection.”

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Tanveer Patel officially launched her campaign for Hoover City Council, Place 1.

Unlike many who seek public office, it wasn't something Ashley Lovell saw herself doing. Yet today, the Hoover native is announcing her run for the Hoover City Council, Place 3. City council president John Lyda currently holds the seat.

Hoover Chief of Police Nick Derzis is widely respected and nationally known.

In 2025, it is time for the people to tell the government what to, where to go, by what route, and how fast. And it is the government’s job to listen.

In his State of the City address at a sold-out event hosted by the Hoover Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Brocato was careful to not mention all but one of the crises that have occurred or are still unfolding.