Martin Thomas Arceneaux (born October 8, 1951) is an American politician and lawyer who has served as the mayor of Shreveport. A member of the Republican Party, he was on the Shreveport City Council representing District C from 1982 to 1990. He also served as the Shreveport Assistant City Attorney.
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Early life and education
Arceneaux was not born in Shreveport. He and his family traveled frequently due to his father, Felix, working for New York Life. After moving to Shreveport, he spent his junior and senior years at Captain Shreve High School. He was the manager of the football team and sport's editor in the student newspaper. He went to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1976.
Law career and City Council
After graduating law school, he clerked for U.S District Judge Tom Stagg. He got appointed as the Shreveport Assistant City Attorney in 1995 by Bo Williams, the mayor at the time. In 1982, he was elected to the Shreveport City Council to represent District C. In 1986 he was elected of Chair of the City Council.
Mayor
Arceneaux was sworn in on December 31, 2022. One of the first things he did in office was to order the demolition of 35 abandoned buildings though his "Block by Block" initiative. In June 2024, One of his notable ordinances was to require owners of vacant buildings downtown to register their properties with the city and maintain them in accordance with new standards. He also proposed new bonds, which were passed by voters to improve city roads, the water system, and public safety buildings.
Personal life
Arceneaux is married to Elizabeth Arceneaux, when they got introduced on a blind date in 1992. They were married the next year.