New Gonzales mayor, officials sworn in

• By JOHN COLVIN AND JOHN MCMILLAN
• Advocate River parishes bureau
• Published: Jan 3, 2009 - Page: 1B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

GONZALES — Hundreds of residents and public officials Friday witnessed the city’s first swearing-in of a new mayor in 24 years.

Mayor Barney Arceneaux, elected in October, has already moved into his office at City Hall and said he is ready to start work Monday morning.

On Friday though, he was celebrating with others of the city’s new leadership team, including Police Chief Sherman Jackson.

“Together we will work on problem-solving and not politics,” Arceneaux said in his address after taking the oath of office.

Relieving traffic congestion in the city is at the top of his list of issues, specifically by continuing the planned addition of turn lanes at six intersections and widening highways, he said.

“I want to push it a lot harder,” said Arceneaux, a 57-year-old Democrat. “Things are moving too slow for me.”

He also mentioned public safety and recruitment of business and industry as his other top priorities.

Prior to his election, Arceneaux was district director for U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, managing four offices in the 3rd Congressional District.

Arceneaux also is a former Gonzales police officer and served eight years as chief of police. He also served as a major in the office of Sheriff Jeff Wiley, who was the master of ceremonies at the inauguration.

After retiring from law enforcement, Arceneaux served as director of the Ascension Parish Planning and Development Department.

The new mayor said he will strive to follow the example set by his predecessor, Johnny Berthelot, in remaining fiscally responsible.

Because of wise money management, Gonzales “has remained a small city but has achieved great things,” Arceneaux said.

Berthelot, who served as mayor for more than 24 years and as a councilman for about eight years, congratulated Arceneaux, Jackson and those elected to the City Council.