Gulfport Mayor Facing Insurance Allegations Won’t Run for Re-election

March 5, 2009

Gulfport, Mississippi Mayor Brent Warr, who is under indictment on several counts of fraud, will not run for re-election.

Warr made the announcement this week in a videotaped message released by his office.

Warr and his wife, Laura, are accused of defrauding the government and an insurance company over losses they suffered during Hurricane Katrina. The government alleges the couple did not live in their beachfront home before Katrina. The Warrs say they did.

The Warrs have asked a judge to delay their April 6 trial until the summer.

The 45-year-old mayor says in his announcement that he doesn’t think he can fight the fraud charges and run for office at the same time.