Meet the candidates: Gulfport City Council Ward 2

GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV) — Just one week out from the special election for Gulfport City Council’s Ward 2 seat, the four candidates gathered for a public forum at the Markham Hotel, giving business owners and residents the chance to hear their plans and vision for the community if they are elected.

We sat down with each candidate to learn more about what they believe to be the most important issues to tackle in their community.

Those candidates include Bryan Caldwell, a former Gulfport School District athletic director and 38-year resident of Ward 2.

“My number one priority is public safety. I was a building administrator. I know that without this safety piece, nothing else matters,” said Caldwell. “So, I want to make sure that our fire department and our police department are equipped with everything they need to do their jobs and make this community safe. Without that, businesses don’t locate here, families don’t move here.”

Ron Ruland, an Air Force veteran and business leader.

“I believe that I need to work on public safety. I also believe that we have to work on the infrastructure, especially for the water, and the cleanliness of the water that we drink. And then, focus on responsible economical growth,” said Ruland.

Howard Page, a Gulfport native who has worked in environmental policy for decades.

“I’ve been in the city council for almost 26 years, for the majority of meetings. Having a knowledge of who’s involved and what the issues are, as well as experience in what the solutions are,” said Page. “Our budget is in really bad shape. Our mayor has said in the last couple of weeks that Gulfport’s living paycheck to paycheck, and I want to bring some leadership to solve that, but absolutely not raise taxes, and absolutely not raise water bills.”

Lastly, Kelsea Bonds, a mother of five who has lived in Ward 2 for 21 years.

“I think I’m most concerned with seeing community improvement across the areas of Gulfport, as well as economical development kind of tailors individual households, per say,” said Bonds. “I think that there’s a lot going on, on the coast here, as far as economical development, but I don’t think that it reached every neighborhood. I think that we need to start making sure that those neighborhoods are included in our expansion as well.”

A few questions those candidates faced during the forum included topics like Gulfport finances, work experience that qualifies them for a seat on the city council, issues Gulfport is facing that they would aim to tackle, and improvements they hope to see for the city.

The special election for Ward 2 comes just weeks after former councilman Ron Roland’s resignation from the position. In July 2025, Roland was hospitalized after suffering a serious fall. He left the council the following April to focus on his continued recovery and health.

Polls for the Ward 2 special election will open on June 9 at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.