Illustration by Melanie Veiring
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Andress for Mayor campaign.
Homewood City Council member Jennifer Andress is running for mayor. If elected, she will become the first woman to serve as the city’s mayor.
A longtime resident and community advocate, city councilor Jennifer Andress is running for mayor with a platform focused on strengthening public safety, supporting Homewood’s top-ranked schools, and preserving the city’s parks and neighborhoods. She emphasizes the need for responsive and transparent leadership, pledging open communication with residents and a commitment to inclusive decision-making. During her time on the council, Andress has been active in infrastructure improvements and environmental stewardship, particularly expanding greenways and trails. She brings experience in civic leadership and community engagement, aiming to guide Homewood through its next chapter with a focus on collaboration, accountability, and maintaining the city’s high quality of life. Andress is the Director of External Affairs at the Freshwater Land Trust.
Ahead of this year’s election, Andress shared her views on key issues with The Homewood Star.
Q: What motivated you to run for office in Homewood’s 2025 election?
I’m running for mayor because I care deeply about where we go next. I’ve spent the last nine years listening, solving problems, and delivering results that matter. I know this community, because I’ve lived it—as a mom, a neighbor, and a councilor. With big changes ahead, we need leadership that’s ready on day one. I’m ready to serve, ready to lead, and ready to keep delivering for Homewood.
Q: How do you plan to improve communication between city leadership and residents?
Good leadership starts with good communication. For the past nine years, I’ve made it a priority to keep Ward 5 residents informed through weekly newsletters, social media updates, and personal conversations with neighbors.As mayor, I’ll bring that same commitment citywide.
Let’s be honest, Homewood isn’t used to having a mayor who consistently keeps you informed. I plan to change that. You won’t have to wonder what’s happening. I’ll keep you in the loop because it’s your city.
Q: You would be taking office during a period of significant transition. How do you view that responsibility?
Homewood is entering a new era, and residents deserve a mayor who’s ready to lead through it. This new structure is an opportunity. With a new City Manager now overseeing daily operations, the mayor’s role is evolving and it involves focusing more on leadership, communication, and collaboration. I fought for this change because our city needed more oversight and continuity. Now, I’m ready to help guide us forward.
I know how City Hall works, and I’ll be ready to lead on Day One.
Q: What is your vision for Homewood’s long-term future, particularly as the city approaches its 100-year anniversary?
My vision is to protect what makes Homewood special: our neighborhoods, our parks, our schools, and the everyday connections that make this place feel like home.
But protecting our charm does not mean standing still. It means planning wisely, investing where it matters, and making sure progress never comes at the expense of character. That also includes maintaining our excellent schools and the strong partnerships that support them.
As mayor, I will focus on strengthening what works, improving what does not, and ensuring Homewood remains a place where families thrive, businesses grow, and neighbors feel proud to live.
The choices we make today will shape the next hundred years. I am ready to lead with vision, care, and commitment.
Q: How do you plan to guide development and manage growth — especially in areas adjacent to Samford University?
What we saw with Samford & Creekside was that the process worked. We want smart development and due to our great financial stability, we don’t need to make decisions based on tax revenue that could come at the expense of our quality of life.
We are beginning the process of a comprehensive master plan that can be a 20 year road map for Homewood’s future. The plan will heavily rely on public input and professional expertise.
As a member of the Planning Commission and Chair of Planning & Development, I’ve seen firsthand the importance of long-term thinking and that’s what I will bring to the table as Mayor.
Q: What is your vision for Brookwood Village, and what role should the city council play in shaping its future?
This is my neighborhood so its really important to me. Brookwood Village holds real potential for both Homewood and our neighboring communities. As someone who has served on the Planning Commission and worked on regional issues, I understand how important it is to approach development with care and long-term vision.
A lot will need to happen to ensure a successful redevelopment of Brookwood. It will take cooperation between the property owners, city leaders, and residents to guarantee the outcome is thoughtful and beneficial.
Whatever the future holds for the site, it should reflect the character of our city, respect our infrastructure and schools, and add lasting value to the entire area. This is an opportunity to do something meaningful, and I am committed to making sure we get it right.
Q: How closely should Homewood collaborate with neighboring cities on regional challenges like infrastructure and business development?
With over 30 municipalities in Jefferson County, real progress depends on leaders who can work across city lines. That’s something I’ve been doing for years.
As Chair of the Jefferson County Councilors Coalition, I built strong relationships with mayors, councilors, and commissioners from across the region. I’ve been a consistent advocate for regional cooperation because the decisions we make in one city often impact our neighbors.
I’m also a graduate of Leadership Birmingham, where I’ve had the opportunity to connect with leaders in business, education, healthcare, and government all working to strengthen our communities.
What does that mean for Homewood? It means we have someone at the table who knows the players, understands the issues, and can bring back real solutions. It means stronger partnerships, smarter planning, and a louder voice for our city.
Because when we work together, everyone benefits, especially the people we serve.
Q: What are your priorities for addressing stormwater management and local flooding concerns?
Stormwater management is a priority because it affects safety, property values, and quality of life. We’ve already secured grants that have helped protect neighborhoods and increased staffing in our Engineering and Zoning Department. As mayor, I’ll continue pushing for smart infrastructure improvements and long-term solutions—not just temporary fixes. I’ll also work closely with at risk property owners to identify problem areas and ensure progress is collaborative.
Q: How do you plan to support Homewood City Schools during your term?
One of Homewood’s greatest strengths is our public schools and nobody appreciates that more than my family does. As a former PTO President and mom, I’ve seen both of our sons go through the system from pre-K at Hall Kent through graduation at Homewood High School, and they’re now excelling in college thanks to the preparation they received. Our schools were just ranked #1 again in Alabama by Niche.com and that ranking didn’t come by accident. We have worked really hard to give them the support they need.
As mayor, I’ll work closely with our Board of Education to ensure our schools stay strong because strong schools mean strong neighborhoods and a stronger Homewood.
Q: In light of the recent police shooting that resulted in the death of Jabari Peoples, how would you approach issues of public safety and community trust?
Our top priority is keeping neighborhoods and families safe and protecting Homewood’s quality of life. I’m proud of HPD. I’ve consistently prioritized public safety and will continue working to ensure our police department has the resources it needs to succeed. That includes strong staffing through competitive benefits, continued training and professional development, full transparency when issues arise and open lines of communication between officers and the community. When trust and support go hand in hand, we build a safer, stronger Homewood for everyone.
Andress is facing Robin Litaker in the mayor's race, and elections are Aug. 26 To see Litaker's views on key issues, click here.
