Leadership reboot for this city
Posted/updated on: April 21, 2026 at 1:14 am
HAWKINS – People living in Hawkins will vote for a new mayor following political conflict, lawsuit and the arrest of their current mayor.
In the past two years, the City of Hawkins has seen major changes under the current mayor, Debbie Rushing.
“I decided to run for mayor because I’ve noticed things happening in the city in the years that I’ve been here and I raised children here, so it became an important thing for me,” Hawkins’ mayoral candidate, Kayla Ross, said.
Since Rushing’s election in 2024, the city has fired its city judge, shut down the police department, and seen Rushing arrested.
Now, the future of leadership could all change at the ballot box on May 2.
“I’m seeing where things are, decisions that are made are not right. Some of them, in fact, I think are actually illegal and I just can’t stand to watch it,” Hawkins’ former mayor and mayoral candidate, Susan Hubbard, said.
Susan Hubbard became the city’s first female mayor in 2022 and resigned after 18 months due to health issues. Now she is in good health and is running again for office to bring Hawkins back to business as usual.
“It just hurts to see the city the way it is when I know, in fact, that this city could be so much better,” Hubbard said.
Hubbard’s opponent is Kayla Ross, a mother with no political experience but ready to make change happen. Ross said her goal is to put the city back on track and address aging water infrastructure.
“This is a crack in the water pipe underneath the railroad that happened whenever the big train, Big Boy, came through. There is also a faulty expansion valve at the bottom of the water tower and I believe possibly some cracks. I’m not 100% honest,” Ross said.
Hubbard and Ross said they would bring back the police department if elected mayor.
“Starting with the city attorney and proceeding there with a police department, a municipal court judge, try to get a code enforcement officer in here that can work and I got a team in place,” Hubbard said.
Hubbard said she is relying on her past experience as mayor and her drive to bring Hawkins back to the standard they all know and love.
Ross said her experience as a mother and substance abuse counselor is the city’s best chance to make the most out of a tight budget.
” I am very equipped in documentation policies, being accountable for outcomes and finding resources. I work with clients, so I have the opportunity to find resources and that is something that I carry proudly and I can bring that into my city as well,” Ross said.
It is now up to voters to decide what comes next for Hawkins.
Debbie Rushing sent KETK News a statement on why she is not seeking reelection.
“I would like to see where I could better assist elsewhere in the community. I would encourage anyone to step out in faith to do something because that is God preparing you for the next step,” the current Hawkins’ mayor, Rushing, said.
