When you’ve served as mayor, you see your community through a different lens. Every decision you make, whether it’s about schools, safety, or development, has a direct impact on families, on neighborhoods, on people’s daily lives.
That’s why I want to share why I’m proud to support Mayor Frank Brocato.
Drive through Hoover today and you’ll feel the momentum. Families are moving in, schools are thriving, neighborhoods are safe, and businesses are investing. That did not happen by accident. It happened because of steady, thoughtful leadership.
Over the years, Hoover has become one of Alabama’s gold standards, a city others look to as a model of excellence. Whether it be the US News & World Report naming it as one of the Top 100 places to live in the country or the schools receiving A+ rankings and Top 5 ranking in the state, Hoover’s achievements can’t be denied. At the center of that progress has been Mayor Frank Brocato.
One of the things I respect most about Frank is that his leadership is recognized far beyond Hoover’s borders. Mayors across our state know how difficult this job can be, how heavy the responsibility is, and how much courage it takes to make the right call in a tough moment.
I know first hand how effective Frank is as a leader and collaborator…as we worked together on the non-poaching (‘Good Neighbor’) agreement for Jefferson County Mayors Association (JCMA) and the Over-the-Mountain Anti-Drug Coalition.
Don’t just take my word for it though. Look at leaders from around the state like Mayor Sandy Stimpson in Mobile, Mayor Walt Maddox in Tuscaloosa, Mayor Mark Saliba in Dothan, Mayor Ron Anders in Auburn, Rep. Susan DuBose from Hoover and so many others who stand with Frank. They all may not live in Hoover, but they also don’t have any personal agendas with what’s going on inside city hall.
They see the work and the results. They know what real leadership looks like, and they’ve seen it in Frank. That matters.
I’ve also seen how Frank has kept education at the very heart of his work. It is common during election season for candidates to say they will support schools. The difference is that Frank doesn’t just talk about it. He has delivered for you.
He increased Hoover’s support for schools to $9 million annually in cash and in-kind contributions. He strengthened partnerships with principals, PTOs, and teachers. He made sure that parents could count on schools being safe by providing a full-time police officer in every building. And he has been present, listening to parents, attending events, and celebrating students. That is not a campaign promise. That is a record.
Frank also brings a unique perspective on public safety.
As a 40 year veteran of the Hoover Fire Dept and the former head of Alabama’s Incident Management Team, he knows how to coordinate during times of crisis. Whether it was weather emergencies, the COVID response, or major events like the SEC Baseball Tournament, Frank has guided Hoover with calm, experienced leadership.
He understands what it means to protect a community, and he has shown he can do it.
But more than anything, what impresses me most about Frank is his integrity and love for Hoover. Four generations of his family have called it home. He has represented your city with class. His commitment to public service is not about ambition.
It is about leaving the city better than he found it, so his children and grandchildren, and yours, can continue to thrive here.
The difference between talk and action is simple: one fades after Election Day, the other lasts for generations. Hoover is living proof of what happens when leadership is grounded in service, not soundbites.
That is why Frank Brocato has the respect of leaders across Alabama—and why he has mine.
On August 26th, I encourage you to vote for Mayor Frank Brocato. Not because of what he says he will do, but because of what he has already done, and the momentum he will continue to build for Hoover’s future.
Stewart H. Welch, III is the mayor of Mountain Brook, Alabama. He is a native of Mountain Brook and the founder of The Welch Group, a Birmingham-based wealth management firm, and a longtime financial advisor and author.
