After trailing by more than 200 votes in the first round, Homewood businessman Chris Lane received calls to concede and step aside — especially since his opponent, John Manzelli, was only nine votes shy of winning outright.
But on Tuesday, Lane overturned that deficit, increased turnout, and delivered one of the most remarkable municipal comebacks Alabama has ever seen.
On August 26, Lane trailed his opponent by more than 200 votes, a margin typically insurmountable in local politics.
Runoffs almost always draw fewer voters — not more.
Alabama’s 2022 statewide primary runoff saw just 13% participation, among the lowest in modern history.
But Homewood bucked the trend. Turnout rose from 28% in the first round to 31% in the runoff, and Lane flipped the result with a 749 to 688 win — a swing of more than 230 votes.
Political observers note that it is virtually unheard of to both increase turnout and reverse such a large deficit in a local runoff.
Lane’s victory was powered by focused, consistent messaging about restoring trust and an exceptional grassroots ground game built in less than a month.
Volunteers knocked doors, wrote personal notes, made calls, and carried the campaign’s message directly to neighbors. That organizational strength fueled one of the most significant electoral turnarounds in Alabama municipal history.
The runoff unfolded as public safety became a pressing issue in Homewood. In June, an officer-involved shooting that killed Jamari Peoples led to protests.
In recent weeks, parents raised alarms after a man was seen bathing in a creek on Roseland Drive as children walked home from school, another individual was arrested for lewd behavior on Oxmoor Road, and a mother and teacher was accosted by a homeless man after the Homecoming Parade.
On September 22, the City Council’s Public Safety Committee advanced an encampment ordinance after Police Chief Tim Ross reported that homeless encounters in Homewood had risen 15% since 2024.
Rather than dismiss these concerns, Lane pledged to confront them directly — supporting law enforcement, working with community organizations, and approaching homelessness with both compassion and conviction before it becomes a larger crisis.
By contrast, his opponent initially dismissed parental concerns as “political” before later deleting the remarks.
Lane’s stance earned him the endorsement of Hoover Mayor and longtime Police Chief Nick Derzis, momentum that he carried into Election Day.
“This win isn’t just about me — it’s about the people of Homewood refusing to sit on the sidelines,” Lane said.
“Neighbors rallied, mothers spoke out about protecting their children, and citizens from every corner of Ward 3 decided to take a stand. Together, we proved that even the so-called impossible can be done.”
Lane’s victory is even more striking given that progressive candidates secured the other three council seats in the August 26 election.
Last year, Homewood voters approved a change to a Council-Manager form of government, reshaping how the city is led. The new mayor and council will be sworn in on November 3, ushering in a new chapter of governance.
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
