By Malcolm Butler
Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker cruised to a fourth consecutive term Tuesday night, capturing nearly 76% of the vote in a decisive victory over challenger William Faulkner and earning another four years to build on the city’s growth and economic development.
Walker received 3,780 votes (75.6%) to Faulkner’s 1,222 (24.4%), according to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office, easily winning his first contested mayoral race since 2014.
The victory extends Walker’s tenure leading the city he has served as mayor since January 2015. He was first elected in 2014, defeating Bill Elmore, before running unopposed in both 2018 and 2022.
In the city’s only contested alderman race, incumbent Bruce Siegmund also won comfortably, defeating challenger Galen Turner for the Ward 5 seat on the Ruston City Council.
For Walker, Tuesday’s victory represented more than another four years in office. It was a vote of confidence in the direction Ruston has taken over the past decade and the administration that has helped guide that growth.
“First of all, I appreciate so very much the confidence in this administration — not me, but this entire administration — over the last 12 years, and I look forward to four more years,” Walker said.
“The people of Ruston decided 11 years ago that they wanted to grow this town because they voted for Moving Ruston Forward, and that is the reason we’re in the position we’re in today. I just thank them for that and hope that we can continue the growth that we’ve seen in the last 12 years for four more years.”
Moving Ruston Forward, a voter-approved three-quarter-cent sales tax initiative passed in 2016, has been a cornerstone of Walker’s administration, helping fund more than $250 million in infrastructure improvements throughout the city.
Those investments, along with an emphasis on economic development and partnerships with local institutions, have helped transform Ruston during Walker’s first three terms. Among the accomplishments Walker has emphasized are the development of the Ruston Sports Complex, continued downtown revitalization, improvements to streets and utilities, and efforts to attract new businesses and private investment.
The city has also strengthened relationships with state and federal officials, helping secure more than $70 million in grants during Walker’s tenure.
In announcing his reelection campaign in April, Walker pointed to several major developments as examples of the momentum he wants to maintain, including the Buc-ee’s travel center, Willis-Knighton Health Center and Radiance Technologies microchip facility. Those three projects represent approximately $210 million in anticipated investment and are among the developments Walker has said he wants to see through to completion.
Walker has also emphasized the city’s financial growth during his administration.
In April, he said annual city revenue had increased from $59 million in 2015 to $94 million in 2026, while annual expenses had increased from $55 million to $71 million. He said the city’s net position had grown from $116 million to $256 million during that same period.
“A city is no different than a business,” Walker said when announcing his candidacy in April. “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.”
Looking ahead, Walker said continuing Ruston’s relationship with Louisiana Tech University remains among his highest priorities.
“My goal for the next four years would be, one, to continue the incredible partnership that we have with Louisiana Tech,” Walker said. “Jim Henderson has done an incredible job. He and Tanya, we’re going to all miss them, but at the same time, we know someone else will come in in that position. Our plan is to work closely with them, just like we did with the Hendersons, and continue the growth that we’ve had as the city and the university.”
Walker also pointed to the continued implementation of Moving Ruston Forward, originally envisioned as a 20-year initiative.
“We’re 11 years into it,” Walker said. “I look forward to finishing at least part of that, hopefully four more years of that, to try to get us where we want to go as far as the city, as far as infrastructure and companies coming here.”
Faulkner, a 39-year-old Ruston native and 2005 Ruston High School graduate, challenged Walker after returning to his hometown in 2022. A 12-year U.S. Air Force veteran who also worked for the U.S. Treasury Department before establishing a consulting business, Faulkner entered the political arena for the first time this year.
During his campaign, Faulkner acknowledged the city’s accomplishments under Walker while arguing that Ruston could benefit from a different approach to progress and development.
“I’m running because … I don’t disagree that there’s been progress in Ruston, but I feel like I’m looking for a different kind of progress,” Faulkner said in an August interview with the Lincoln Parish Journal. “I’m giving Ruston a choice for something different.”
Faulkner emphasized the importance of public input in decisions affecting the city’s future, offering voters an alternative to Walker’s emphasis on continuing the initiatives already underway.
Walker, meanwhile, said his desire to continue serving Ruston remains as strong as it was when he first took office.
“I think the biggest thing I want to do is continue the momentum that we have with the city of Ruston,” Walker said when announcing his reelection bid. Kay and I have enjoyed serving the city of Ruston tremendously.”
While Walker secured another four years in the mayor’s office, Siegmund also earned another term representing Ward 5 on the Ruston City Council. Siegmund defeated challenger Galen Turner by 150 votes, receiving 360 votes (63.2%) to Turner’s 210 votes (36.8%).
“I feel honored and privileged and humbled,” Siegmund said following Tuesday’s election. “You just never know what people are thinking. I’m excited about the direction that we’re going and the opportunity to work with them.
“It’s really been a joy to work with them and just kind of see the progress. The unity that we have in the City Council, you just don’t see a lot of that in other places, and I think that’s part of the success — just everybody going the same direction rather than everybody trying to go their own way.”
Walker echoed those sentiments, pointing to the ability of city leaders to work together as one of the reasons Ruston has experienced continued growth.
“I think it speaks volumes for what’s happened in the last 12 years, the fact that myself and the entire City Council has not had opposition until this year,” Walker said. “I think it shows in what we get done. It shows that we don’t sit there and argue and basically fight like so many other cities do. We’re all trying to pull in the same direction and get things done for our city.”
Siegmund will join Carolyn Elmore Cage (Ward 1), Angela Mayfield (Ward 2), Melanie Lewis (Ward 3) and John Denny (Ward 4) on the council for another four-year term.
