A.J. Holloway, 75, recently resigned as mayor of Biloxi, Mississippi. In his resignation letter to the city council, Holloway, now in his sixth term as the city’s mayor, wrote, “Due to an accumulation of health issues, I must ask the people of the City of Biloxi to permit me to be with my family for the remainder of this municipal term.” In January Holloway checked himself into an alcohol treatment facility.
Holloway’s political career began in 1989 as a member of the city council. He became mayor four years later and was instrumental in the growth of the casino industry. As revenues increased, with more funds to spend on personnel and projects, the conservative Holloway created budgets that left taxes intact.
In addition, Holloway guided Biloxi through the devastation and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Recently, he promoted the $370 million infrastructure projects underway across the city as the final pieces to Biloxi’s post-Katrina recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Chief Administrative Officer David Nichols said, “I hope people will use this time to reflect on the extraordinary career of dedication that A.J. Holloway gave to this city that he loves so much. At no time in our 300-year history have we had one individual who has provided so much leadership to this city in some of its best and most challenging times.”
Councilman Felix Gines currently is serving as acting mayor. A special election will be held later to fill the remainder of Holloway’s term, which runs through the middle of 2017.
