By AMY JONES / Associate Editor

HOOVER — After the July 17 qualifying deadline passed, several Hoover incumbents, including Mayor Gary Ivey, were able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Ivey and council members Place 2 incumbent Gene Smith, Place 4 incumbent Ret. Adm. John T. Natter and Place 5 incumbent Jack Wright are all unopposed in their bids for mayor and council seats.

Place 1 incumbent Trey Lott will face a challenge from DeMarcus Hill, the owner of a charter broker company.

Place 3 incumbent Mari Morrison will run for her third term against John Lyda, a member of the Hoover Public Library Board of Trustees.

Incumbent Brian Skelton, who has more than a decade’s experience on the Hoover City Council, will run for his Place 6 seat against Ken Teter, who has served on the Lake Trace Homeowners Association Board for seven years and as association president for four years.

Place 7 is the most crowded race, with incumbent John Greene facing challenges from Jason Cerniglia, the owner of Hoover Fitness in Bluff Park, and Ken King, who is working with the Democratic National Committee and the Barack Obama re-election campaign.

The Hoover municipal election is Aug. 28.