OATHS

By Howell Dennis
Crowley Post-Signal
CROWLEY — Mike Francis was sworn in by Judge John Trahan as District 4 Public Service Commissioner on Tuesday during a ceremony at the Acadia Parish Courthouse.
Francis, a Republican, is the founder of Francis Drilling Fluids, one of the oldest drilling fluid companies on the Gulf Coast. Francis Drilling Fluids has locations in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and Wyoming. The company’s headquarters is located in Crowley.
“I want to thank our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ as well as the woman who gave me this Bible, my lovely wife, Sheila Stevens Francis,” said Francis at his official swearing-in ceremony Tuesday. “I also want to thank my mentor, former Commissioner Clyde Holloway.”
Francis’ longtime friend, Bill Broadhurst, served as master of ceremonies at the event.
Francis is succeeding Holloway, who did not seek re-election and died in October 2016.
Francis won with 54 percent of the vote in November’s election ahead of Reldon Owens, a Republican, and Mary Werner, a Democrat. His election also marks the first time an Acadia Parish native was elected to serve on the PSC.
Francis has been involved in Louisiana politics for a long time. He served as chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party from 1994 to 2000. He also tried his hand in 2006 in a special election for the office of Louisiana Secretary of State but was ultimately unsuccessful.
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Genovese takes oath
Republican Jimmy Genovese, formerly an appeals court judge, was sworn in Tuesday to the seven-member high court at a ceremony in his hometown of Opelousas.
Genovese will represent Louisiana’s 3rd District, covering the Lafayette and Lake Charles areas.
Genovese defeated Marilyn Castle, a Republican state district court judge in Lafayette who was favored by business groups, in the November election to take the seat for a 10-year term. Genovese received 51 percent of the vote.
Gov. John Bel Edwards and Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Johnson were among the speakers at Tuesday’s ceremony.
According to the Daily World, Genovese thanked St. Landry Parish voters for his victory during the ceremony at the Evangeline Downs event center.
Genovese received about 15,000 votes in St. Landry Parish.
“By your vote, you made this all out — you slayed the giant,” he said.
Senate Congressional oaths
In Washington, D.C., Clay Higgins, former spokesman for St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz, was sworn in as the congressman for the 3rd Congressional District. He replaces Charles Boustany, who ran unsuccessfully for the Senate left open by Sen. David Vitter. The 3rd Congressional District includes the portion of Eunice that is in Acadia Parish.
Mike Johnson was sworn in as the 4th Congressional District representative. The district includes the Eunice area in St. Landry Parish. Johnson succeeds John Fleming, who also ran unsuccessfully for Senate.
State Treasurer John Kennedy took his oath on Tuesday as senator.