EXPERIENCE MATTERS
NOW MORE THAN EVER.
VOTE TUESDAY, AUGUST 26!
MEET GENE
Gene Smith has been a citizen of Hoover for over five decades and has dedicated most of his adult life to serving the people of Hoover. Gene previously served on the Hoover City Council from 2004 to 2020, including a stint as Council President from 2016 to 2020.
Gene graduated from Berry High School, then attended Jefferson State and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). After college, Gene worked for the Hoover Fire Department for more than 17 years before retiring as a captain and licensed paramedic to run his family's business.
Outside of his time on the council, Gene has been active in the community, working with various organizations, including the Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission, the UAB 310 Mental Health Commission, Friends of Hoover, the Bluff Park Neighborhood Association, the YMCA Board of Directors, and the Aldridge Gardens Foundation Board of Directors.
Gene and his wife, Pam, have three children and six grandchildren, and they are members of Bluff Park United Methodist Church.
THE ISSUES
EDUCATION
For decades, Hoover City Schools have been the crown jewel of our city and a primary reason for our city’s rapid growth. I have a proven track record of collaborating closely with school leaders. If elected, I will continue working with school leaders to find new opportunities to improve our schools and enhance our School Resource Officer (SRO) program.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE
My experience on the City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission has provided me with valuable insight into how economic developments should be planned and coordinated. We must continue moving our city forward while strategically preparing our infrastructure, schools, and other essential city services for future growth without overburdening the city financially.
COMMUNICATION
For the past five years, whenever citizens have questioned city leadership, they have been met with silence and ignored. During my term as Council President, this was not the case; if we did not have answers, then we worked to find them. Every citizen deserves respect, and their questions should be taken seriously.
FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY
In recent years, city leadership has failed to address several ongoing budgetary issues. You deserve to know how and where your tax dollars are being spent. I will demand fiscal accountability and transparency because it is not the government’s money; it is our money.
PUBLIC
SAFETY
Having served as a first responder for over 17 years, I know that public safety must always be the top priority. If elected, I will assess the need for additional fire stations and police officers. The government's primary responsibility is the safety of its citizens, and if Hoover wants to once again become the gold standard, we cannot afford to be complacent.
TRANSPARENCY
The city has spent several hundred thousand dollars on livestreaming and archiving city meetings; however, in recent years, videos have been shortened and deleted. Additionally, city council minutes are no longer a detailed and accurate record of conversations between the council and citizens. If elected, I will request that all livestreams be archived, and city minutes actually inform citizens of what occurred at city meetings.