Shreveport, Bossier City mayors laud selection of Johnson as House speaker

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) — Prominent northwest Louisiana politicians are reacting to the fact that U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson has been elected as House speaker.

Bossier City’s and Shreveport’s mayors weighed in on how the newly elected speaker will represent our region at the Capitol.

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux and Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler both said they have great relationships with the 4th Congressional District representative. They also both are very fond of Johnson and consider Wednesday a great day for this part of Louisiana.

Arceneaux said he and Johnson, a fellow Shreveport native, have been friends for more than 25 years, long before either of them has been in politics.

“I am thrilled for him. But, more importantly, I am thrilled for the country. He is a good, honest man full of respect and civility for people of all opinions.”

Arceneaux and Johnson both graduated from Shreveport’s Captain Shreve High. Caddo School District made a social media post Wednesday congratulating the newly elected speaker of the House.

“He certainly makes the Gator Nation proud at Captain Shreve because of his accomplishments and, more importantly, because of who he is,” Arceneaux said.

Chandler also turned to social media Wednesday, asking others to join him in prayer for Johnson’s election.

“Yes, I was praying for Mike. Keeping his name out there. And he succeeded. God came through and Mike’s in there.”

Chandler said he has a great relationship with the elected speaker.

“I got a lot of text messages and phone calls talking about ‘Hey, our friend, he’s made it, he’s the speaker.’ And everybody classifying him as a friend.”

Both of the northwest Louisiana mayors said they believe Johnson will bring unity and civility to the office.

“Mike is a uniter. He’s going to be very successful in this endeavor he’s doing right now. He’s going to be awesome,” Chandler said.

On a side note, Shreveport attorney Royal Alexander, who talked with KSLA News 12′s Steven Maxwell on Wednesday morning, also believes Johnson is the man to unite Republicans.

“If anyone can unite a pretty diverse caucus of people, Republicans. Because many, for example, are from blue states where President Biden won. Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, we are all red states. So if anyone can tie all that together, I think Mike can,” said Alexander, who worked with Johnson for several years.

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