Keating to run for Gulfport Mayor

November 3, 2024

Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes (R) recently announced that he will not seek re-election next year after serving three terms as the city’s chief executive.


On Tuesday, a well-known Coast attorney – Hugh Keating – stepped into the political spotlight, filing campaign organization paperwork to run for the mayor’s office in Mississippi’s second largest municipality.


Keating will seek the Republican nomination in 2025 to be Gulfport’s next Mayor. While he has not formally announced his candidacy,


Keating told Magnolia Tribune his focus will be on the city reaching its full potential.


“I have always believed in the principle of service above self, and that drives my desire to serve the people of Gulfport as your next Mayor,” Keating told Magnolia Tribune. “My focus will be on building our city to reach its full potential when it comes to growing the economy, tourism offerings, public safety, community relations, infrastructure enhancements, and an overall quality of life for families that is second to none.”


Current Mayor Hewes said Keating has a long history of civic involvement in the city, something that will serve him well.


“We are fortunate to have had his decades of service to our community, and the fact that he has made the decision to seek the office of Mayor represents even more opportunity for confidence, stability, and continued growth in Mississippi’s second largest city,” Hewes said.


Keating is Vice-President/Treasurer, Director and Shareholder of the law firm Dukes, Keating, Hatten, McRaney and Blum. He received his B.A. from the University of South Alabama and earned a Juris Doctorate from Mississippi College School of Law. He is a past president of The Mississippi Bar and was appointed by former Governor Phil Bryant to serve on the Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee for the Second Supreme Court District in 2017.


In addition, Keating has served on various community boards and commissions, including the Gulfport School District Strategic Planning Committee, Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Blue Ribbon Commission on Public Trust Tidelands, Gulfport Rotary Club, and many others.


According to paperwork filed with the City Clerk’s office establishing the Friends of Hugh Keating political committee, former Mississippi Republican Party chairman Frank Bordeaux will serve as the candidate’s committee chairman. Bordeaux said he is “110% behind” Keating.


“I don’t know who’s going to run against him; I don’t know if anyone will,” Bordeaux said. “I’ve seen Hugh my entire life, since childhood, invest his time into the city of Gulfport, whether it was youth sports or digging in and working hard for our city. He’s committed time, he has institutional knowledge in the city, but more importantly he has a passion for the success of Gulfport, the Coast and the state.”


Municipal elections will be held next Spring, with the new terms beginning in July 2025.


Source: Magnolia Tribune - https://magnoliatribune.com/2024/06/13/keating-to-run-for-gulfport-mayor/

A look ahead to the upcoming Gulfport municipal elections

By Josh Gregory • November 5, 2024
With current Mayor Billy Hewes planning on stepping down after his third term, candidates have begun announcing their intentions to run for the office of Mayor of Gulfport in 2025. On Monday Sonya Williams-Barnes, a former member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, confirmed with WXXV that she intends to run for the seat of Gulfport Mayor. Along with her, Gulfport attorney Hugh Keating also confirming that he still intends to run in the 2025 election. Time is still left for other candidates to throw their hats in the ring but the filing period for municipal races is quickly approaching, beginning in January of next year. Party primaries will kick off at the beginning of April, with general elections set for June 3rd. Some Gulfport residents spoke on what remains important to them as we draw closer to the race for the seat of Gulfport Mayor. “They need to interact with the people because the people are the ones that put you in office. Get out, show your face, and show concern. That’s the main thing. Show concern, have compassion, have empathy with your people,” said Kenya Williams, a Gulfport resident. Source: WXXV - https://www.wxxv25.com/a-look-ahead-to-the-upcoming-gulfport-municipal-elections/

Who’s in, who’s out in MS Coast mayors’ races, with city elections just around the corner

By Josh Gregory • November 4, 2024
Two incumbent mayors on the Mississippi Coast have definitely decided against seeking re-election when four-year terms end June 30, 2025, while most incumbents tell the Sun Herald they’ll be running again. The mayor of Mississippi’s second-largest city, Billy Hewes in Gulfport, plans to call it quits after three terms. He’s spent 32 years total in public office, including 20 in the state Senate. “Candidly, I’m tired,” Hewes said. “This job has owned me and that’s typical with most mayors. It runs you. You don’t run it. It’s going to occupy pretty much every moment.” Hewes is ready to get back to more rock n’ roll with his band, Cut Bait. Not to mention wife Paula Hewes would like to see him around the office. The Heweses own the Hewes Agency insurance company and Billy Hewes Real Estate.... Read more: https://www.sunherald.com/news/politics-government/election/article289619200.html