Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux officially qualified for re-election Tuesday by submitting more than 960 certified nominating petition signatures to the Caddo Parish Registrar of Voters, surpassing the 750 signatures required under Louisiana law for candidates qualifying by petition.

Arceneaux spent the past three months visiting neighborhoods across Shreveport to collect signatures from registered voters seeking his nomination for a second term.

The filing marks the third time Arceneaux has qualified for office by petition. He previously used the petition process during his successful campaigns for the Shreveport City Council in 1982 and for mayor in 2022.

“It has always been important to me to take this opportunity to meet in person with constituents ahead of an election to hear what is most important to them, answer questions, and ask for their support,” Arceneaux said. “Collecting signatures by petition can be arduous and is optional, not required, to qualify as a candidate, but it represents what I believe truly serving in this office is about, working in earnest, with transparency, dedication and perseverance. I can’t think of a better way to show my commitment than to personally seek voters’ nominations ahead of an election.”

Louisiana law allows candidates to qualify either by submitting a nominating petition or by paying a qualifying fee. Candidates qualifying by petition must collect at least 750 verified signatures from registered voters residing in the jurisdiction where they are seeking office.

The qualifying period for the Shreveport mayoral race is scheduled for Aug. 5 through 7. The primary election is set for Nov. 3.