Gonzales mayor-elect ready to work

• By JOHN A. COLVIN
• Advocate River parishes bureau
• Published: Oct 12, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:00 a.m.

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GONZALES —  Mayor-elect Barney Arceneaux says he is ready to work toward putting his campaign promises into action once he takes office in January.

He said his administration will focus on four key areas: traffic, public safety, economic development and recreation.

In the coming weeks, Arceneaux wants to meet individually with the future City Council, which includes two new members, Kirk Boudreaux and John J. Cagnolatti, to discuss his plans and their goals. Kenny Matassa, Terance Irvin and Joe Waguespack are returning for another term.

“It is my aim to find a happy medium,” he said. “We all want to keep the city growing in the right direction.”

Specifically, Arceneaux said,  he hopes to add turn lanes at more intersections and consider synchronizing traffic signals along major roadways.

Arceneaux, a former police chief for the city from 1984 to 1992, also said he wants to work with the Fire and Police departments to assure the city is providing the right and the best equipment.

He also supports increasing the city’s annual contribution to the Ascension Parish Economic Development Corp. to $100,000. The city’s present budget provides a $25,000 contribution.

On recreation, Arceneaux said he want to do more to improves the city’s facilities.

On Monday, Arceneaux returned to his job as district director for U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville.

He said he would likely continue working in that post until late in the year, taking personal time off from the job to handle the transition.

A meeting with Mayor Johnny Berthelot, who did not seek re-election, and City Clerk Clay Stafford is already scheduled to review the city’s finances, Arceneaux said.

With 63.7 percent of the vote, Arceneaux defeated Martin McConnell by 748 votes in the Oct. 4 election.

“I didn’t expect that much support,” he said. “I felt we would win, but I never anticipated such a large margin.”