FIRST PERSON: Marshall Simien – Lake Charles Mayor

In a historic moment for the city of Lake Charles, Marshall Simien Jr. was sworn in as its 30th Mayor—and the first Black person ever elected to this office—this month. And while he is new to this leadership role, his name is a familiar one. A proud son of Lake Charles and accomplished attorney, Simien has built a notable career blending public service and
civic leadership.

The oldest of five children, Simien graduated from Washington High School before earning his undergraduate degree in government from McNeese State University. While attending LSU Law School, he met his wife of 33 years, Dr. Paula Simien. They have three children, Marshall III, August and Grace.
Simien began his legal career in New Orleans, with a clerkship for Judge Bernette Johnson, who would become a Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice. He joined the law firm of Middleberg, Riddle & Gianna, as an associate and later partner, where his primary focus was complex business litigation. It was at this law firm where his interest in politics began, as he worked on several political campaigns.

When his father became ill in 1999, Simien and his family moved home to Lake Charles and he founded the Simien Law Firm, focusing on commercial litigation, insurance defense and championing small businesses. In 2003, Governor Blanco appointed him to the Lake Charles Port Board, where he helped guide reforms and economic expansion efforts. He was elected to the Lake Charles City Council in 2005. Following two terms on the council, he temporarily filled a vacancy on the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury and later chaired the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana, further emphasizing his commitment to regional growth and resilience.

As he begins this next chapter as mayor of Lake Charles, Thrive spoke with him about his journey to this pivotal point, along with his goals for the city’s future.

You grew up in Lake Charles. What are some of your favorite memories from your childhood?
There are many: swimming at the Goosport pool, playing softball, going to school at Molo Middle School, just being with family and friends all the time. You know, when I think about my childhood, what stands out the most is that feeling of community we had. There’s nothing like it and that’s what I want everyone to feel in our city.

What led to your interest in law?
My initial major was engineering, but then I ran into physics and decided to pivot. Going back to the lessons of service and community I learned from my parents, and my personal interest in understanding how government works for a community, I switched to government. This gave me a solid foundation for pursuing a law degree. I felt gaining an understanding of the legal system would give me the knowledge to work for meaningful change—for the clients I’d represent and the community I serve.

What are you most proud of in your career?
Being the first in my family to attend college was a proud moment—proud for me because it made my parents, who had worked so hard, proud. I’m proud of the family my wife and I have created, and of my previous public service and what I helped accomplish in those roles. And of course, I’m proud of becoming mayor of this city I love. But looking back, one of the things I’m most proud of is mentoring the young men of the Junior Knights of St. Peter Claver through Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. It is up to us, as the older generation, to find a way to connect and understand our youth. The Junior Knights opened up this communication for me. Spending time with these young men, discussing their concerns and views, watching them grow into adults, while helping to instill the values of faith, leadership and social responsibility—that’s an accomplishment I can never surpass.

What’s the best advice you ever received?
My dad shared lots of great advice with me, but what comes to mind first is a simple gem from my grandfather. Whenever I’d have a problem or ask him for help, he’d ask, “What’s your solution?” If I didn’t have one, he’d then say, “If you don’t have a solution, by definition, you cannot have a problem.” I’ve certainly learned how right he was!
Public service has played an important role in your life. How has that prepared you to be mayor?

I believe public service drives progress in a community. My experience on the Lake Charles Port Board, for example, taught me the value of accountability, strategic planning and economic diversity at a regional level. My eight years on the Lake Charles City Council reinforced these lessons, and the recovery efforts we oversaw after Hurricanes Rita and Katrina showed me the importance of government leadership and collaboration at all levels. As a board member with the Community Foundation, I experienced the value of translating vision into action through data-driven planning and community wide engagement.

What do you feel are the biggest strengths of Lake Charles?
We have so many! Our waterways are a huge natural resource I feel we don’t make the most of, or promote enough, as an attraction. The growth of the LNG industry is fueling our economy with more expansion ahead. It’s an exciting time for that industry and we’re at the center of it. But our biggest strength is our people and the strong sense of community we have here. This is not found in most other cities across the country. We care about one another and look out for each other. It’s part of who we are and what makes us a resilient and united community when it matters most.

How do you feel about making history as the first Black mayor elected in Lake Charles?
I’m very conscious of the weight of this moment. It’s an honor and I feel it reflects how far we’ve come as a community. People across this city, across the state, have expressed genuine and heartfelt support for me, which is so appreciated. It was especially encouraging to me that there was substantial crossover vote.
What are your immediate priorities?

During the campaign, I talked about creating “One Lake Charles,” where all parts of the city come together, participate fully and share equally in progress. This vision drives my immediate priorities across the board. I want to work to give our city workers a raise. They have families to support and need to earn a living wage. We’re also looking at our police department, to make sure it is not only well-staffed, well-trained and well-equipped, but also that our officers are engaging properly with the community. We’ll be focusing on creating safe spaces for our youth for recreation. Economic diversity and growth that is sustainable for future generations is a big priority from day one. Our beautiful lakefront offers many untapped opportunities for this.

What are more long-term goals you hope to achieve?
To strengthen our city’s resilience to weather events so we can better withstand storms when they occur and recover from them more quickly and fully. I want to foster more investment in the business sector, adding more diversity to our economy so more of our young adults can find the jobs they want right here at home. I want Lake Charles and the Lake Area to become the place to go for diverse and extensive entertainment options—something for everyone—in a safe, family-focused, culturally rich community. Our city has a unique vibe, and it’s time for us to share it.

As you move through this first month in office, is there anything else you’d like to say to the Lake Charles community?
First, thank you. Thank you for the literal vote of confidence in choosing me to be your mayor. I will not let you down, but I ask you to be patient. We are hard at work, and you’ll start seeing the results very soon. I’m excited and moving forward with a steady hand and hopeful heart, guided by faith and driven by a vision of a better Lake Charles for all of us.