Walker announces decision to run for fourth term

by Malcolm Butler

Mayor Ronny Walker announced today that he will run for a fourth term as the leader of the City of Ruston.

Standing on the stage at Railroad Park overlooking a revitalized downtown Ruston and accompanied by his wife, Kay, Walker spoke of his love for the city and his desire to serve a fourth term.

“The main reason I am running is that I love this job,” said Walker. “(Former mayor) Dan Hollingsworth told me when I was elected that it would be the greatest job that I ever had. And he was exactly right.”

The Meridian, Mississippi, native was elected in 2014 and re-elected in both 2018 and 2022. He defeated Bill Elmore in 2014 and has run unopposed each of the past two elections.

Walker’s predecessor (Dan Hollingsworth) also served four terms before retiring from office. Walker will turn 75 this year.

During Walker’s tenure as mayor, the city of Ruston has seen significant economic growth and infrastructure improvements with more on the way in the very near future.

“A city is no different then a business,” said Walker. “You are either rolling or you are failing. I feel like we have our city now in the position of growth, only because of the citizens of Ruston voting in Moving Ruston Forward in 2016. That has propelled our city to be the envy of many many cities across the state and the nation.”

During the past 12 years, some of the top accomplishments for the city under Walker’s tenure include:

Moving Ruston Forward – a three-quarters cent sales tax that has led to in excess of $250 million in infrastructure work that has led to growth in new businesses

Partnership with Louisiana Tech University – has led to bridging the gap between the university campus and downtown Ruston

Improvement in relationship with state and federal leaders and entities which has led to over $70 million in grants

Addition of the Ruston Sports Complex, one of the premier multi-sport facilities in the south, that attracts thousands of families to Ruston each year and that provides topnotch facilities for local youngsters

The election will take place this fall.

“In 2014, I ran on a platform that contained four main points,” said Walker. “The first was to grow our city. A city is just like any other business. You are either growing or you are dying.”

Walker provided a couple of illustrations on how the city has grown during his tenure as mayor.

In 2015, the city of Ruston’s revenue was $59 million while today it is $94 million per year. The expenses in 2015 was $55 million while present day it is $71 million.

“The big change is in the net position of our city,” said Walker. “In 2015, it was $116 million and today it is $256 million. So this city has grown over the last 11 years mainly because of Moving Ruston Forward.”

When asked what his goal for the next four years would be, Walker

“To finish a lot of the projects that we have going on right now,” said Walker. “There will always be project whenever I do decide not to run, but we have some really important ones that I would like to see through to completion.”

Some of those projects include: