Some politicos will say that he has never stopped running for a second term after he was sworn into office as Shreveport mayor on Dec. 21,2022.
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux will have a re-election announcement tomorrow (Wednesday) at a downtown venue. The mayor has stated publicly many times that he wanted a second term and tomorrow will be the OFFICIAL announcement.
This event will most likely feature the blue ribbon crowd that endorsed him in 2022 plus new converts to his campaign. His campaign filing on Dec. 31 of last year showed almost $159 grand in his campaign account. No doubt his treasury now easily exceeds $200 thousand and more contributions will now start rolling in.
Tomorrow's announcement may just be the earliest re-election announcement event for any former Shreveport mayor, or for that matter any mayoral candidate, in the city's history. Qualifying for the 2026 mayoral and city council elections is July 29-31, 2026. The general election is Nov. 3, 2026 with a run-off date of Dec. 12, 2026.
Mayor Tom has been the most accessible Shreveport mayor to the media, hands down. His mantra is "I will go where invited" and he frequently appears on local TV stations. His once a month hour long studio session on the Mike and McCarty 710 KEEL radio show is precedent setting and he frequently has interviews on the air during the month.
A mayor seeking a second term has a record to run on, which is both good and bad. Needless to say he now has critics pointing to what the City has or has not done during his term. Several prior mayors have been defeated in re-election efforts and the failures of Bo Williams, Ollie Tyler, and Adrian Perkins provide some pitfalls for Mayor Tom to avoid.
Mayor Tom is a Republican and he will again face the reality of the large Democrat and non-white majority of voters. In 2022 he navigated these political waters successfully but the challenge may be more onerous this time around. The Caddo Sheriff election in Mar. 2024, which was the second election after the first was thrown out, energized Democrat and African American voters and the carryover to 2026 will be an unknown factor.
Leaving aside the current backlash on a proposed two (2%) percent add-on to Shreveport water bills, Mayor Tom has scored many brownie points with his Block by Block Initiative, the City's reduced crime rate, and with some, the new downtown 50 Cent economic district. There will be plenty of water to go over and under the dam between now and early next year when a serious mayoral challenger must start beating the drum. But for now, it's Mayor Tom's week to shine.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.