Hoover’s Tony Petelos is back in the game! A beloved mayor looks to reenter politics.
As first reported by The Homewood Star, Tony Petelos, the former Hoover mayor and county manager of Jefferson County, told The Homewood Star he would consider coming out of retirement on an interim basis to lay the groundwork for a permanent hire. “I’m a lifetime resident of Jefferson County and was able to set up a new form of government for Jefferson County, and would be able to do it for the City of Homewood,” he told The Star on Thursday, two days after voters approved the referendum authorizing the change in government. Homewood voters on Tuesday authorized the city to change its form of government from a mayor/council format to a city manager/council structure. As part of that transition, the council plans to hire an interim manager to initiate changes and prepare for a full-time hire to be made by the next council and mayor. New leadership will take over after city elections in 2025. Petelos, 71, retired from the county manager position of Jefferson County in 2021. Asked directly if he had talked to representatives from Homewood or interviewed for a role, Petelos declined to answer. He did tell The Star he would be happy to talk with Homewood’s City Council and learn more about their needs, and clarified he has no interest in the permanent city manager role. Petelos, 71, said he has no interest in the permanent city manager role but would consider coming out of retirement on an interim basis to lay the groundwork for a permanent hire. In April 2021, Petelos told the Hoover Sun, he thoroughly enjoyed being Hoover’s mayor and had a great leadership team surrounding him, particularly former Executive Director Allen Pate, who handled much of the day-to-day administration. He has a lot of great memories from his time of mayor. Those include Hoover native Taylor Hicks winning season five of the “American Idol” singing competition and Hoover dancing instructor Fabian Sanchez appearing as a professional on “Dancing with the Stars,” not to mention all the SEC Baseball Tournaments, Regions Charity Classic golf tournaments, ribbon cuttings and groundbreakings. He very fondly remembers when President George W. Bush visited the Hoover Public Safety Center in 2007 to see the city’s program for using ethanol in city vehicles while in town for a fundraiser for Gov. Bob Riley. Petelos said Bush invited him to ride in his limousine with him to the fundraiser, and he remembers thinking how proud his mother would have been of him. Tuesday night, former Homewood mayoral candidate Chris Lane posted on Facebook that Petelos would be the choice to lead the transition. “I’ve had several people ask me (about his name being linked to the role on social media),” said Petelos, a UAB graduate whose career in politics also includes serving in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1986-97. “I said, ‘Well, you know, I don’t know.’ I need more information before I can make any statement (on whether he would officially apply for the ro Petelos would bring decades of experience to the role. He served as Hoover’s mayor from 2004-2011, leading the city through a period of dynamic growth. He then left to become Jefferson County’s first county manager in 2011, a move that stunned many observers considering the county was mired in controversy and lacking public trust after 22 county officials were imprisoned on corruption charges in the preceding years. “We inherited a mess,” Petelos told the Hoover Sun in 2021, just before his retirement. “It was a challenge.” “It was about as bad as I expected,” Petelos told The Sun, referring to the county’s condition when he came into the job. “The first six years were chaotic — issue after issue after issue.” But by the time he retired, the county had emerged from bankruptcy and was in a much better position financially, with more than $100 million in general fund reserves and another $16 million in a “catastrophic” contingency fund, Petelos said. Just several weeks ago, the City of Hoover underwent a forensic audit that shows that following Petelos’ term in office, the city went through a rough period with checks and balances failing to work the way they were intended, personal vendettas finding their way into meeting agendas, and squabbles between city councilors, the mayor, and the city attorney. If Petelo gets done in Homewood, he could go home and clean up the mess the current leadership has allowed to defile the pristine city hall he left. Could Petelos’ post-retirement include cleaning up a mess he worked hard to prevent.
Stephanie Petelos Nabavian reelected as Chair of the Greater Birmingham Young Republicans
The Greater Birmingham Young Republicans (GBYRs) met on Thursday to hold their officer elections. Chair Stephanie Petelos Nabavian was elected to her second term as GBYR Chairperson, defeating challenger Christian Brown. “I am so happy to continue leading the Greater Birmingham Young Republicans!” Petelos said in a statement on Facebook. “The results last night, 85% in my favor, prove that our membership are excited to continue our path of growth, hosting unique events, and building a strong community of like minded and passionate young people. I am so thrilled about the exceptional new board I get to serve with! Thank you so much for allowing me to continue serving you!” Petelos told Alabama Today that in the last year, she grew the club to such a point that they were able to break off the Shelby County Young Republicans as their own group. She hopes to possibly do the same, creating other groups, perhaps Gardendale, in the future. “With kids and a long work day, it is asking a lot for them to get on Interstate 65 and fight traffic to get here (Vestavia Hills). Some of them aren’t able to do that,” Petelos said. Petelos is also the Chair of the Alabama Federation of Young Republicans. Petelos told Alabama Today that the COVID-19 global pandemic and the shutdown of the restaurants had a detrimental effect on the Young Republicans statewide. She said her goal is to grow the GBYRs to what they were a few years ago before the group’s more recent setbacks. Petelos previously was the Chair of the Federation of College Republicans. She recently got married and finished law school. She is the daughter of former Hoover Mayor and Jefferson County Manager Tony Petelos. Her mother is a former Jefferson County judge. Brown said that running for the position was a “learning experience.” Josh Cox was elected Vice Chair, and Taylor Martin was elected Secretary. In other business, the group voted to hold the GBYR Christmas Party on Tuesday, December 12, at the Fish Market Restaurant in downtown Birmingham. Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen (R) is expected to be the speaker. New Jefferson County Commissioner Mike Bolin (R) addressed the group. “This is a treat for me to come meet with the yrs because I missed this when I was coming through,” Bolin said. Bolin is a former Jefferson County Probate Judge and a former Alabama Supreme Court Justice. He was elected to the Jefferson County Commission this summer in a special election when Steve Ammons left the Commission to accept a new position. “Some of you here will hold elected office,” Bolin said. “It might be county commissioner, it might be a judge, it might be governor.” Eric Lee discussed the special election coming up in January in House District 16. HD16 represents part of western Jefferson County, Northern Tuscaloosa County, and Fayette County in the Alabama House of Representatives. Republican Brian Brinyark faces Democrat Bubba Underwood. The seat was previously held by Rep. Kyle South (R-Fayette), who left on July 1 to accept a role with the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce. Lee said he is working with Terry Richmond and the Jefferson County Republican Party to help get out the Republican vote for that special election to elect Brinyark. They need phone bankers to call Republican voters in HD16 to remind them to come to the polls. Lee said that the next meeting of the Jefferson County Republican Party Executive Committee is November 21 at the Homewood Public Library. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Flowers: Two Jefferson County legends retire
As we begin to celebrate the Christmas season and close out 2022, allow me to share the story of two great Jefferson County/Alabama political legends. Alabama Supreme Court Justice, Mike Bolin, is retiring at the end of the year from the state’s highest judicial tribunal. Judge Bolin is a young 72. He would not have retired and would have sought and been elected to another six-year term if it were not for an antiquated state law that disallows someone to run for a judgeship in the state after age 70. Justice Bolin is one of the most popular and well-respected judges in Alabama. He is a big man, physically and figuratively. He is beloved throughout the state, especially in his native Jefferson County. Mike Bolin was born in and is a lifelong resident of Jefferson County. He attended elementary and high school in Homewood and graduated from Shades Valley High School in 1966 with honors. He stayed in Homewood for college and graduated from Samford University with a degree in Business Administration in 1970. He then continued on and got his law degree from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law. He graduated from law school in 1973. He was on the Dean’s list and was associate editor of the Law Review. Judge Bolin was a practicing attorney in Birmingham from 1973 through 1988. In 1988 he was first elected Probate Judge of Jefferson County. He was reelected Probate Judge of Alabama’s largest County in 1994 and again in 2020. He served in that position until his election to the Alabama Supreme Court in January 2004. He began serving on the Supreme Court in January 2005. Thus, at the end of his tenure in six weeks, he will have served 18 years on the high court. Justice Bolin and his wife Rosemary have one daughter, Leigh Anne. Mike Bolin is known and respected for his integrity, humility, and kindness. Another Jefferson County legend, Tony Petelos, retired from public service last year. Tony is a lifelong resident of Jefferson County and is a real American and Alabama success story. Tony Petelos has carved out a niche in Jefferson County and Alabama political history. His parents are first-generation immigrants. His family fled Greece when Mussolini and later Hitler invaded and decimated Greece. His father fought in the Greek Army and then later became a member of the United States Army. Tony is the youngest of nine children. He had five siblings born in Greece; one died in the war. His father made it to the United States in 1947. His mother arrived in 1950. They had four sons born in America. Tony is the youngest. His father and mother settled in Ensley. Tony’s father was in the construction business and became quite successful. Tony and his three older brothers joined their father in the family business. He earned his college degree at UAB while working during the day. He met his wife Teresa while both were studying at UAB. She became a Jefferson County Circuit Judge and served 18 years on the bench. Tony began his political career in 1986. He defeated an incumbent and became one of only 14 Republicans in the 105-member House of Representatives. He was reelected in 1990 and again in 1994. In 1997, after 11 years in the House, Governor Fob James named Tony Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources for the State of Alabama. He was reappointed Human Resources Commissioner by Governor Don Siegelman in 1998 and served through 2001. In 2004, Tony Petelos was elected Mayor of the City of Hoover, one of the state’s largest cities. He served eight years as mayor and earned a reputation as one of the state’s premier municipal administrators. In 2011, the Jefferson County government was in chaos, to say the least. The County Commission lured Tony away from Hoover to be the Administrator of Jefferson County’s government. He cleaned up the corruption and financial problems and spent ten years in that position. He retired about this time last year at 69. He and his wife, Judge Petelos, are doing well. They live in the same home they have lived in for the last 24 years in Hoover. They have two adult daughters, who they are very proud of. Tony’s story is a great Alabama political success story. Happy Holidays. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. Steve served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
