Ward 2 residents decide Gulfport City Council runoff. Here’s who won
Voters chose retired athletic director Bryan Caldwell as their Ward 2 City Council member in a special election runoff on Tuesday that pitted him against food operations manager Ron Ruland.
Caldwell won the runoff with 713 votes to 626 votes for Ruland. The Municipal Election Commission expects to meet to certify the election on July 8.
During the day, both men gathered under tents in the heat outside voting precincts with supporters and campaign signs. Steady streams of voters turned out at both precincts.
While campaigning, Caldwell and wife, Kellee received a FaceTime call from their son and his wife to meet their third grandchild, a boy born on election day in Mobile. Despite the heat, Ruland campaigned in a long-sleeved dress shirt, tie and dark slacks.
Gulfport held the nonpartisan special election to fill the seat of Ron Roland, who resigned for health reasons. The term expires June 30, 2029.
Ward 2 spans Gulfport’s waterfront
Ward 2 includes a precinct at Westside Community Center and one at the Francis X. Collins Lifetime Fitness Center. The ward stretches across the waterfront from city line to city line.
Caldwell, who retired in 2022 as the Gulfport School District’s athletic director, said that he ran for council because he’s spent his adult life in public service and wants to continue working for his neighbors.
He plans to focus on public safety, economic development and infrastructure. Caldwell believes the city needs to modernize aging water and drainage systems, perform road maintenance and invest in public spaces, such as parks.
Ruland, director of food operations at Island View Casino Resort said during his campaign that he ran for the seat because he believes Ward 2 has been under-represented.
