Latest news with #Derzis
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mayor Brocato, Police Chief Derzis discuss Hoover mayoral race
HOOVER, Ala. (WIAT) — Incumbent Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato and Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis joined CBS 42 Morning News to discuss why each are running for mayor. Brocato, a former fire marshal and paramedic, has held the position since 2016 and is running for his third term. During his 2025 State of the City address, Brocato placed a focus on decreasing crime, improving schools, and growing business within in the city. On Monday, Brocato emphasized the importance of revitalizing businesses in the area, including the Riverchase Galleria. Alabama-born actor Michael Rooker stars as villain in final season of 'The Righteous Gemstones' Brocato also spoke about the creation of Riverwalk Village, a 90-acre mixed-use community that will be located in Riverchase as a key source for business and economic growth. Police Chief Derzis, who has served as chief since 2005, announced he was running for mayor back in March. 'Hoover needs leadership that innovates, not stagnates,' Derzis said during his announcement. 'Leadership that listens, not manipulates; leadership that plans, not reacts.' When asked why he decided to run for mayor, Derzis said Brocato actually approached him to run last year. 'Well, the mayor is the one that brought it to my attention last year. Called me to his office one day to have a conversation and he said 'You know, have you ever thought about running for mayor? I may not run, and you ought to consider it.'' While Brocato ultimately decided to run for a third term, Derzis said he felt that after nine years it was time for a change in leadership. Derzis cited communication issues between the city council and mayor's office and business stagnation as areas he would look to improve on. With a population of over 92,000 people, Hoover is one of the largest cities in Alabama and was recently named one of the top 25 places in the Southeast to live by Hoover's municipal election will be held Aug. 26. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis announces run for mayor
HOOVER, Ala. (WIAT) — Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis has announced he will run for mayor of the city. Derzis, who has been with the department since 1979, was appointed chief in 2005. Originally born in Germany and living all around the world before making Alabama his home in 1977, Derzis and his department were put on the world stage in the midst of the Carlee Russell kidnapping hoax, where the nursing student had gone missing for a couple of days in the summer of 2023 before coming back home, claiming she had been kidnapped. As the department investigated Russell's story, Derzis publicly expressed his doubts over her claims. 'I do think it's highly unusual the day that someone gets kidnapped that seven or eight hours before that they're searching the internet, Googling the movie 'Taken' about an abduction,' Derzis said in a press conference held July 19, 2023. 'I find that very, very strange.' By July 24, Russell admitted that she had lied about the abduction. She was later charged and convicted of filing a false police report and filing a false statement to law enforcement authorities. The Russell case inspired the Alabama Legislature to pass a bill seeking higher punishment for people who file false police reports. The press conference will be held at 2 p.m. Watch the full press conference above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
