Political party Republican Spouse Paula Hewes Role Mayor of Gulfport | Name William Hewes Religion Roman Catholic Party Republican Party | |
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Born October 27, 1961 (age 62)
New Iberia, Louisiana, United States ( 1961-10-27 ) Alma mater University of Southern Mississippi Occupation State legislator; Insurance agent; Real estate broker Education University of Southern Mississippi Office Mayor of Gulfport since 2013 Residence Gulfport, Mississippi, United States | ||
William Gardner "Billy" Hewes III is a Republican politician. He is the mayor of Gulfport, Mississippi and the former President pro tempore of the Mississippi State Senate. He was born in New Iberia, Louisiana and currently lives in Gulfport, Mississippi.
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Education and personal life
Billy Hewes, Republican, currently serves as Mayor of Gulfport, Mississippi, the state's second largest city, having won office in the 2013 City of Gulfport General Election, in which he ran unopposed.
Hewes is a direct descendant of the first mayor of Gulfport. In addition, Billy's grandfather served as a chancery judge for many years, and his father served on the Gulfport City Council. Following a generational example of political interests and activism, his family has participated in a long history of civic involvement.
Elected to public service in 1992, Billy represented the interests of Republican voters in South Mississippi in the Mississippi Senate for 20 years, serving as President Pro Tempore in his last term. Among other roles, he has served as national chairman of the American Legislative Exchange Council and as chairman of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission. In addition, Billy served as chairman of the Senate Ports and Marine Resources Committee and Highways and Transportation Committee, and was also the founding chairman of the Mississippi National Guard Legislative Caucus.
Hewes was named Mississippi Association of Realtors Legislator of the Year by the Mississippi Association of Realtors, a private trade association that provides business benefits to its members including "education, communication, and lobbying for business-friendly legislation."
He is an outdoors enthusiast and amateur musician, serving on the Mississippi Blues Commission.
Hewes is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi. He is the owner of Billy Hewes Insurance Agency and is a Broker-Associate with Billy Hewes Real Estate. He has been the recipient of the Nationwide Insurance Company's District Community Service Award five times, and is a member of the Gulf Coast Board of Realtors and Gulf Coast Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.
A graduate of Leadership Mississippi and Leadership Gulf Coast, Hewes is a member of the Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Gulfport Rotary Club and is a past president of the Gulfport Jaycees.
Mississippi State Senate
Senator Hewes represented District 49, Harrison County, Mississippi. He served that district from his election in 1992 until 2012. He serveed as president pro tempore of the Mississippi State Senate from 2008 until 2012. He was the chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, and served on the Business and Financial Institutions; Compilation, Revision and Publication; Elections; Environment Protection, Conservation and Water Res; Ethics; Finance; Highways and Transportation; Housing; Insurance; Legislative Budget; Municipalities; Ports and Marine Resources; and Public Health and Welfare committees. He was succeeded as president pro tempore by Terry C. Brown.
2011 Lieutenant Governor race
Hewes was an unsuccessful candidate for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi, losing the Republican Primary election to Tate Reeves by a 14 point margin.