That's why I have chosen to live in Hoover for the past eight years. 

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My name is Liz Lane. I was born in Alabama, raised in Tuscaloosa, and feel right at home in Hoover. I have chosen to raise my kids, run a small business, and buy a home in this wonderful community that is consistently ranked among the top for quality of living. But I believe there is always room for growth, and that's why I feel called to run for Hoover City Council. 

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I am not your typical candidate. My background looks very different from most elected officials. For one, I'm a woman. The last time a woman was elected to Hoover City Council (absent of appointment) was 2012. We need more representation, and I know I can amplify our voices.

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I’m also new to politics. I'm a full-time, second-generation abstract artist who grew up in a gallery and had a paintbrush in hand before I could even remember.  My mom, artist, Lorrie Lane, filled our home with coffee,  good food, and paint. I went to the University of Alabama, met my future husband Chase, had lots of adventures, and graduated in 2011. My last day of college, a massive EF4 tornado ripped through my home city, forever changing my views on climate adaptation and community involvement.

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Chase and I got married and decided to try making a home in Birmingham. We bought a fixer upper in Highland Park, learned how to use power tools, studied knob-and- tube wiring, then sold it, and paid off our student loans. After working for all kinds of small businesses since age 14 —-  an early e-commerce shop, boutiques, and galleries—, I had saved enough money to open my own retail gallery in Downtown Homewood, with my one year old daughter in tow. Two years and a second daughter later, I opened another gallery, in Asheville, North Carolina. At one point, I represented 20 artists. My career continued to change, but art remained at the center. 

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I realized I wanted to focus more on my family and my own art. I now operate a studio mostly dedicated to my own painting in Bluff Park. I enjoy having representation across the US, but my favorite clients are my local crew. - Make an appointment and stop by! 

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Did I mention I'm mom to two amazing and hilarious  elementary school daughters? (I'm not biased or anything.) When I'm not painting, you can usually find our family out hiking through one of Hoover's amazing parks, - from Moss Rock to Red Mountain. Or you can find us at home with our goofy dog Handsome, two fish, and three cats. 

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As your city council representative, I promise to bring creativity to Hoover.  I promise to use my 10 years of experience in the arts to realize Hoover's long standing goals for a performing arts center. I promise to stand with my city council members in making sure roads are paved, school and library board members are elected, police and fire departments are funded,  but all the while, asking "What would make this a little more special? a little more helpful? a little more beautiful? What would make this a little more tailored to the needs and values of our diverse neighborhoods?" 

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When I go to the easel, my goal is to find my truth, both about who I am and the moment I am in. I believe I cannot make great art without first finding that truth. That is how I approach the rest of my life: Honesty is always first, even when it's difficult. I want the people of Hoover to have easy access to the truth — the who, what, when, where, why, and how — about every aspect of this city. 

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There is nothing like living in a city where you drop off your kids in the morning at their public school, and you don't have to worry about a thing, because you know what kind of teachers and staff work there. There is nothing like living in a city where  your car's battery dies, and not one, but three of your neighbors show up to get you back on your way. There is nothing like living in a city where many of your neighbors speak different languages and practice different religions and you can , celebrate these differences with one another. There is no other city where you can get lost in  349 acres of climbable rocks and trails at Moss Rock, go for an easy walk at Aldridge gardens, or take a swing at the city's multiple state-of-the-art golf courses. There is no other city that has so much to do for families, including the Hoover Met and Explore Splash Pad. 

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This is a city where neighbors show up for each other. I want to show up for you and make the changes you want to see. Can I have your vote on August 26? Let's do this. 

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Sincerely, 

-Liz