Tom Arceneaux sworn in as the new Shreveport mayor on New Year's Eve
Tom Arceneaux along with seven city council members was inaugurated into office on New Year's Eve.
This year's mayoral election ended in a tight run-off election between Tom Arceneaux and Gregory Tarver with Arceneaux winning with 56 percent of the vote.
The Shreveport City Council will have two new members. Gary Brooks will serve District B and Ursula Bowman will serve District G. Alan Jackson won the runoff election and will continue his service in District E.
Former District C Councilman and former Mayor of Shreveport Keith Paul Hightower spoke during the charge of the council. In his speech, Hightower reflected on his time in office and encouraged the new council members and mayor-elect to keep pushing for a city of which everyone can be proud.
"Everything is not doom and gloom in the city, that's for sure," said Hightower. "We've got a lot to be proud of. And everyone in this room, you're here today because you're a cheerleader. You're a cheerleader for the city and we've got eight of them on stage with the council and the mayor that will go out and see this city and promote this city every single day. But they need the constant backing of a group of citizens like this that support them wholeheartedly through the ups and downs that they can advance and help them when they're needed."
Arceneaux served as a member of the Shreveport City Council from 1982-1991 and on the Board of Directors for the Highland Restoration Association for 13 years.
Serving with Arceneaux is Tom Dark as interim CAO, Sherricka Fields-Jones as interim finance Director and Zelda Tucker as interim city attorney. Arceneaux said there aren't "any head on the chopping block anywhere" in regard to the current department heads on staff.
During Arceneaux's inaugural address, he talked about the changes for the city he and his team are making plans to enact and encouraged the Shreveport community to get involved. Arceneaux spoke of breathing new life into the old bones of Shreveport and the amount of work it will take from the entire community to do so.
"Just like in the 'Dem Bones' song, we must connect each part of the city to each other part," Arceneaux said. "They each form a part of a whole body. We can have a joyful and hopeful future. Now hear the word of the Lord, when we all work together them bones of Shreveport are going to rise again. Please join us in the renewals, the restoration of our great city. Yes, these bones can live. Now let's get to work."
"Meredith G. White is the arts and culture reporter for the Shreveport Times. You can find her on Facebook as Meredith G. White, on Instagram and Twitter as @meredithgwhite, and email her at mgwhite@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: New Shreveport mayor, council members sworn into office on New Year's
