Over the course of 36 years, Flowood Mayor Gary Rhoads has turned his city from a sleepy bedroom community town into an economic development engine in Rankin County.
Rhoads is now ready to hand off the baton to the next leader.
After nearly 36 years of service, Rhoads announced Tuesday that he will retire and not seek re-election. First elected in1989, he was also the town’s chief of police from 1981 to 1989.
The next mayoral election will be in November of 2025. There has been no one that has announced they will run, and the mayor’s offices said they have heard of no one that could potentially step into Rhoads shoes.
Rhoads has led Flowood through a remarkable era of growth and development. Under his guidance, the city has consistently maintained one of the lowest millage rates in the region and has successfully completed transformative projects, such as Dogwood Festival, Lakeland Commons, the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center, the Refuge Golf Course, and many innovative healthcare facilities. These efforts have not only bolstered the city’s infrastructure but also created a vibrant community central to Flowood’s identity.