Johnny Berthelot
John Alan Berthelot, known as Johnny Berthelot (born November 1951), is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 88, based in his hometown of Gonzales in eastern Ascension Parish near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was the mayor of Gonzales from 1984 until 2008 and great-nephew of first mayor of the city, "Tee Joe" Gonzales. 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 recalls that when he became mayor, the city had to borrow $75,000 from the Bank of Gonzales at 4