Johnny Berthelot

John Alan Berthelot, known as Johnny Berthelot (born November 1951), is an American politician who served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for the 88th district from 2012 to 2020.

Early years The son of J. O. Berthelot and the former Doris Hebert, the Roman Catholic Berthelot attended St. Theresa Catholic School and Gonzales High School. In 1969, he received his diploma from East Ascension High School. In 1970, he graduated from New Orleans Barber College. Berthelot studied in the continuing education program at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and completed the course in real estate there in 1975.

Political career

From 1976 to 1984, Berthelot served on the Gonzales City Council and as mayor pro tem. Elected mayor at the age of thirty-two in 1984, he was an advocate for reduced taxes and sound municipal finances. After his first election, he was unopposed for reelection for his last five terms.

Berthelot credits the conservative approach to finances that has sustained Gonzales: "When interest rates were double digit, we invested and made money on our interest. The lifeblood of our city is the 2 percent in sales tax we receive, totaling over $10 million a year. This is the main source of revenue." Gonzales is a commercial center with some 100,000 shoppers in the city on a daily basis.

Personal life

Berthelot and his wife, the former Paula Chauvin, have four children, Kim, Shelley, Kelley, and Brad, and five grandchildren, Payton, Reid, Lennon, Gabe, and Grant.