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Line 5: + + − 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 advocated for reduced taxes and sound municipal finances. After his first election, he was unopposed for reelection for his last five terms.<ref name=berth/>Berthelot recalls that when he became mayor, the city had to borrow $75,000 from the Bank of Gonzales at 4 percent interest to renovate two water towers. "We now have $20 million (unrestricted) in reserve. We’re probably in the best financial shape of any city our size in the United States," said Berthelot late in 2008, as he prepared to turn over his office to Barney Arceneaux, the current mayor.<ref name=mayor>{{cite web|url=http://www.weeklycitizen.com/news/x1369589608/Gonzales-mayor-leaving-after-8th-term-in-office|title=Annabelle Armstrong, "Gonzales mayor leaving office"|publisher=weeklycitizen.com|accessdate=May 18, 2012}}</ref>+ − − Line 15:
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clean up & uniformity
==Political career==
==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 advocated for reduced taxes and sound municipal finances. After his first election, he was unopposed for reelection for his last five terms.<ref name=berth/> Berthelot recalls that when he became mayor, the city had to borrow $75,000 from the Bank of Gonzales at 4 percent interest to renovate two water towers. "We now have $20 million (unrestricted) in reserve. We’re probably in the best financial shape of any city our size in the United States," said Berthelot late in 2008, as he prepared to turn over his office to Barney Arceneaux, the current mayor.<ref name=mayor>{{cite web|url=http://www.weeklycitizen.com/news/x1369589608/Gonzales-mayor-leaving-after-8th-term-in-office|title=Annabelle Armstrong, "Gonzales mayor leaving office"|publisher=weeklycitizen.com|accessdate=May 18, 2012}}</ref>
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 the commercial center for the River Parishes, with some 100,000 shoppers in the city on a daily basis.<ref name=mayor/> Berthelot learned after his election that he was a great-nephew of the founder and first mayor of Gonzales, Joseph "Tee-Joe" Gonzales. Berthelot's father, J. O. Berthelot, also served on the city council and was known for his anti-litter eradication efforts. The family resided two blocks from city hall.<ref name=mayor/>
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 the commercial center for the River Parishes, with some 100,000 shoppers in the city on a daily basis.<ref name=mayor/>Berthelot learned after his election that he was a great-nephew of the founder and first mayor of Gonzales, Joseph "Tee-Joe" Gonzales. Berthelot's father, J. O. Berthelot, also served on the city council and was known for his anti-litter eradication efforts. The family resided two blocks from city hall.<ref name=mayor/>
Shortly after the attack on the [[World Trade Center]] on [[September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11, 2001]], Mayor Berthelot and Gonzales Police Chief Bill Landry delivered a fire truck donated by the state of Louisiana to municipal firefighters in [[New York City]]. The two appeared at the time on [[NBC]]'s ''The Today Show'', then with host [[Katie Couric]].<ref name=mayor/>
Shortly after the attack on the [[World Trade Center]] on [[September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11, 2001]], Mayor Berthelot and Gonzales Police Chief Bill Landry delivered a fire truck donated by the state of Louisiana to municipal firefighters in [[New York City]]. The two appeared at the time on [[NBC]]'s ''The Today Show'', then with host [[Katie Couric]].<ref name=mayor/>
==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Berthelot and his wife, the former Paula Chauvin, have three children, Shelly, Kelly, and Brad, and five grandchildren, Payton, Reid, Lennon, Gabe, and Grant.<ref name=berth/> The Berthelots have a camp at Graveyard Island on the Belle River.<ref name=mayor/>
Berthelot and his wife, the former Paula Chauvin, have three children, Shelly, Kelly, and Brad, and five grandchildren, Payton, Reid, Lennon, Gabe, and Grant.<ref name=berth/> The Berthelots have a camp at Graveyard Island on the Belle River.<ref name=mayor/>