City of Gulfport honors former Ward 2 Councilman Ron Roland

GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV)- The Gulfport City Council honored former Ward 2 Councilman Ron Roland for his public service Tuesday afternoon.

Roland suffered serious injuries after a fall back in July 2025 and after nine years on the city council, he decided it was time to retire in April.

City officials, including Mayor Hugh Keating, say they appreciate Roland’s hard work on behalf of the city and wish him the best in retirement. Mayor Keating said, “He did his homework. He was prepared. He knew the issues and he was very reflective on his decision making. He didn’t jump to conclusions. He did the best he could to represent his constituents to the best of his ability. In that respect, I mean, he did well. I think the people he represented had a lot of love and respect for him. We just wish Ron all the best, he and his family. We’re going to get him back involved in some way, shape, or form. He’s got some things to give and wants to. So, we’ll get him involved in some things that don’t require quite the level of intensity. So, we’re looking forward to spending more time with him.”

The race to fill Gulfport’s vacant Ward 2 seat continues with a runoff election scheduled for June 30.

Either Bryan Caldwell or Ron Ruland will complete the remainder of Roland’s term, which runs through June 30, 2029.