Gulfport council candidates line up for special election. Who’s running?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Four candidates filed for the June 9 special election to fill Ward 2 City Council seat.
- If no candidate gets a majority vote, a runoff will be held.
- Candidates emphasize water, drainage, infrastructure, and public safety.
Four candidates have filed to run in a special election June 9 to fill the unexpired term of Ward 2 City Councilman Ron Roland, who resigned for health reasons.
The race will be nonpartisan. If nobody receives more than 50% of the vote, a runoff will be held. The winner will serve the remainder of a four-year term that runs through June 30, 2029. The qualifying deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday, but the Municipal Election Commission must still determine eligibility for the ballot, which the administration expects to happen by Tuesday.
In-person absentee voting will begin once ballots are ready at the city clerk’s office at City Hall. Residents can pick up absentee voting applications beginning Wednesday. More information is available on Gulfport’s website.
Candidates in the nonpartisan race are listed in alphabetical order:
More on Gulfport council candidates
Kelsea Bonds
Bonds, 34, is the mother of five children, including a disabled child who needs around-the-clock care. She is also a poker dealer at Beau Rivage Casino Resort in Biloxi.
Bonds said her frustrations over trying to get help for her disabled son is one of the reasons she’s running. She said that she would lend a sympathetic ear to constituents who bring their issues to her. She said that she wants to see water quality improve in Ward 2 and would work on other infrastructure issues.
She also wants to see more low-cost entertainment options for families, including upgraded parks.
“I’m super new to this, and I’m out on a limb here,” she said, “but I’m really trying to step up to a position where I can make changes for the better for the community as a whole.”
Bryan Caldwell
Caldwell, 66, retired in 2022 as the Gulfport School District’s longtime athletic director. He said that he’s spent his adult life in public service and wants to continue by serving his neighbors.
“As a teacher, head coach, principal, and athletics director in the Gulfport School District, I navigated school boards, civic partnerships, capital projects, and community relationships throughout my career,” Caldwell says on his website. Caldwell also helped head the successful $41.2 million bond campaign for Gulfport High School.
As a councilman, he would focus on public safety, economic development, and infrastructure. He also mentioned the need to improve water quality.
Caldwell believes the city needs to modernize aging water and drainage systems, perform road maintenance, and invest in public spaces, such as parks.
Howard Page
Page, 62, is an environmental consultant who has worked with groups opposed to inland port expansion and a proposed city connector road that would destroy 98 acres of wetlands.
Page has studied government for years and has previously run for office. He said that he is running for the council seat because “Ward 2 deserves leadership that understands the details, shows up prepared, and puts neighborhoods first.”
Page said he believes city decisions should be based on protecting residents and preserving the city’s unique characteristics.
Page wants to see more transparency in government and clearer communication from the administration. He emphasized on his campaign website that he would work for better drainage and flood prevention, improved public infrastructure such as streets and sidewalks, “responsible growth,” and a stronger voice for Ward 2 residents.
Ron Ruland
Ruland, 55, is director of food operations at Island View Casino Resort. He has been knocking on doors and wants to serve as a councilman because he believes Ward 2 has been under-represented.
He said that he would bring extensive business experience to the council job. Ruland said he manages 600 employees and a $30 million annual budget for Island View venues. His ability to balance budgets, lead teams and deliver results would be an asset for the city, he said.
As a councilman, he said on his website, he would work to protect property values, make streets safer for pedestrians, clean up neighborhoods, attract economic development, and fix water and drainage problems.
“Gulfport taxpayers deserve strong, principled leadership on the City Council — leaders who will stand up for fiscal responsibility, public safety, and limited government,” he said.
