My experience on the Hoover City Council over the last five years has reinforced a crucial point: local government has an increasingly significant influence on our lives.

My journey into public service was driven by one clear objective: to secure more funding for Hoover City Schools. As someone who has been deeply involved in the community for over two decades—as a PTO president and the head of the Hoover City School Foundation—I witnessed the truth in the saying, “As your school goes, so goes your city.”

This realization motivated me to pursue an office on the council.

This election season, many candidates have been talking about “transparency.” For me, it’s more than just a catchphrase. I’ve lived by that standard in my professional life. Prior to my council role, I managed significant sums of retirement and university funds, where I had a fiduciary responsibility to safeguard my clients’ trust. This meant undergoing rigorous audits that examined my files, emails, texts, and even social media accounts. It’s not a pleasant process, but it’s essential for maintaining integrity.

I believe local governments should operate with the same level of transparency. When citizens inquire about matters, the response should never be, “Why do you want to know?” Instead, it should be straightforward: “Here’s the information.” Sadly, that’s not the reality in our current city hall.

Some might dismiss these concerns as purely political, but the evidence speaks for itself.

The current council members—including Casey Middlebrooks, Kurt Posey, and Samswanee—are aligned with Mayor Tony Pettiros, former city administrator Alan Pate, and many city employees, as well as the majority of the 14 council candidates backing mayor Nick Deltzis.

This issue goes beyond mere politics; it boils down to trust. It’s not a conspiracy—it’s a clarion call for vigilance.

The mayor oversees the city’s financial information, and a forensic audit has revealed troubling decisions made based on incomplete data, all managed solely by the mayor’s office. Our part-time council members earn only $600 a month, with no staff or research resources, which makes accurate and timely information vital. Once that trust is compromised, it’s the public that suffers.

Here are a few concerning examples:

• The Performing Arts Center project in Patton Creek was earmarked for $17 million, with claims that the deal was “immediate.” Yet, mere weeks later, we learned that the deal fell through, and this critical information wasn’t disclosed prior to a council vote.
• The Lorna Road Building was sold as being “ready for move-in” for $2 million, but renovations might run an additional $4-5 million. If the council doesn’t receive reliable opinions, the mayor intends to convert it into a Visual Arts Center.
• A neglected rainwater containment pond has seen overgrown trees for years, yet the council was unaware that no inspections were conducted.
• An independent audit uncovered $40 million in unverified transactions, including discrepancies in years of banking records, deleted files, and staffing issues that have persisted for nearly two years—along with almost $400,000 in IRS fines. While the council manages city finances, we rely on information controlled by the mayor.

These issues extend beyond minor oversights; they reveal a pattern of hiding critical information from those of us in elected oversight roles.

When many in the council advocate for change, it’s not personal—think of it as an offensive line seeking a new quarterback. We have perspectives that differ fundamentally from those watching from the stands.

Nearly a decade has passed, and Hoover still lacks a performing arts center. Projects at the Galleria and Patton Creek have stalled. This isn’t the pinnacle for Hoover, and pointing that out isn’t negativity; it’s honesty, and I don’t think it’s up for debate.

Election outcomes matter. We’re not just voting for “the best candidate” but rather for a leader capable of achieving real results. Mike Shura was well-respected, but Alabama fans made the tough choice to bring in Nick Saban to clinch the championship. Look how that turned out.

If Hoover is to reach its potential, we need to rebuild trust, insist on transparency, and demand integrity from those managing our taxes. That’s why I, alongside various council and community leaders, support Nick Deltzis for mayor.

This isn’t about political maneuvering or personal preferences. Transparency is a necessity, not just an issue for discussion.

On August 26th, I’ll opt for leadership over platitudes. I’ll prioritize results over rhetoric. I choose Mayor Nick Deltzis.