​Join the Republican Women of SWLA in welcoming 

Lake Charles Mayor
Marshall Simien, Jr.

When:  Thursday, Jan. 22nd, 2026
​Lunch Buffet @ 11:00 am - 1 pm Cost $30

Where:  Lake Charles Country Club
3350 Country Club Dr, Lake Charles, LA 70605
​Reservations by Tuesday, January 20th, 2026
​​Contact: [email protected]​  ​
​Reservations not canceled by Tuesday before the event must be honored.

About our speaker

Marshall Simien, Jr., a Lake Charles native, was elected Mayor of the City of Lake Charles on May 3, 2025.  He graduated from Washington High School and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Government from McNeese State University.  He went on and received a law degree from LSU in Baton Rouge.  He then practiced law for 34-years, first in New Orleans and then in Lake Charles where he represented some of the largest businesses in the country as well as many families throughout Southwest Louisiana.
​
In addition to practicing law, Marshall has been a dedicated public servant. In 2003, Marshall was appointed by Governor Kathleen Blanco to serve on the Board of Commissioners for the Port of Lake Charles, currently the 10th largest port in the United States.  While serving on the Port Board, Marshall helped oversee the construction and opening of L’Auberge Casino Resort which, along with the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino, are the most successful gaming operations in the entire State of Louisiana.  While also on the Port Board, Marshall helped the Port enter into agreement with Sempra Energy which led to the construction of Cameron LNG which transformed the SWLA area into the largest exporter of LNG in the entire world.

After having served on the Port Board, in 2005 Marshall was elected to serve on the Lake Charles City Council where he served 2-terms (8-years), including having served as City Council President and Vice-President.  Marshall represented District A which included the lakefront, downtown and northern areas of Lake Charles.  While serving on the City Council, Marshall helped our community recover from Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, and oversaw several bond projects including Riverside Park, Enterprise Boulevard extension, Downtown Transit Center, Lakefront Promenade, Lakefront Marina, Ryan Streetscape, new Millenium Park and Children’s Playground, MLK Recreation Center Playground, Goosport Recreation Spray Park, and multiple affordable housing developments for the citizens of our community and its senior citizens.   

In 2014 Marshall was appointed to serve on the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury to finish the term of the Juror representing District 2 who passed away while in office.

In 2022 Marshall was appointed by Governor John Bel Edwards to serve on the Louisiana State Board of Commerce & Industry to help jumpstart the entire State of Louisiana’s economy in the aftermath of the global pandemic while overseeing some of the largest economic development projects in the State of Louisiana.

Marshall’s community service includes having served as Board Chair of the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana, Executive Board of the Alliance for Positive Growth, North Lake Charles Kiwanis Club, Immaculate Heart of Mary Holy Name Society, ACTS Retreat Director, advisory boards of First Horizon Bank and the Diocese of Lake Charles’ St. Charles Retreat Center.   Marshall is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., 4th Degree Knights of St. Peter Claver, the Louisiana State Bar Association, Southwest Louisiana Bar Association, and Louis A. Martinet Legal Society. 
Marshall, who attends Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and serves as a Eucharistic Minister and Lector, is married to Dr. Paula Simien.  They have 3 adult children, Marshall III (Baylee), August, and Grace Elizabeth.
​
Location: Lake Charles Country Club
3350 Country Club Dr, Lake Charles, LA 70605

RWSWLA Christmas Party

Join the Republican Women of Southwest Louisiana at our annual Christmas Party.  Limited to Members plus one guest only.  Deadline November 27th, 2025 at 5pm.

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Upcoming Election Dates

Next Election, Open Primary ​

Saturday October 11, 2025
​ Renewals, City of Lake Charles, 3 ten-year millages.
 No amendments are currently listed on the ballot. To research amendments, go to
parlouisana.org.
 Early voting begins Saturday September 27, 2025, at Moss Bluff (Library), Lake Charles
(Courthouse), Sulphur (Law Enforcement Bldg), Iowa (Library Activity Annex).
 You may vote at any early voting location for any election.
 Deadline to request absentee mail ballot from Registrar– October 7, 2025. All registered
voters over 65 automatically qualify for a mail ballot.
 Mail ballots must be returned to the Registrar by October 10, 2025. Ballots may be
mailed, walked-in or dropped off at any early voting location during early voting.
 To view/print your ballot, go to geauxvote.com.Open General Election

​Open General Election

Saturday November 15th, 2025
 Ballot items to be determined by September 22, 2025. Run-offs, if necessary.
*Source: Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court, Elections Department, calcasieuclerk.gov.2026 Senate Election in Louisiana

​2026 Senate Election in Louisiana

​Closed Primary, November 3rd, 2026
​ Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who was re-elected in 2020, is running for a third term.
 Other declared candidates are John Fleming, Blake Meguez, and Sammy Wyatt. Other
potential candidates are Randall Arrington, Chris Holder, Xan John, Eric Skrmetta,
Garret Graves, Julia Letlow, and Mike Strain.
 In the closed primary system, only Republicans vote for their Republican candidates.
Closed primaries will be the rule for congressional candidates, BESE, Public Service
Commission, and the Louisiana Supreme Court.
 Unaffiliated voters (no party) may vote in the primaries, but not members of any other
party, including the Independent Party of Louisiana. Runoffs may be necessary if no
candidate receives a majority.
 John Bel Edwards, former Louisiana governor, is a potential Democratic candidate.
^Source: www.shreveporttimes.com, January 30, 2024. Retrieved from en.m.wikipedia.org. June 19, 2025.

Options for Voting

Vote By Mail
  • Request an absentee mail-in ballot by the prescribed deadlines.
  • Call the Registrar of Voters office at 337-721-4000 or visit GeauxVote.com to UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS so the ballot is delivered to your current residence.
  • Be sure to observe deadlines.​​ ​​ ​​
Request Absentee Ballot by completing the Application & Returning:
  • Registered voters can request an absentee ballot two ways:
  • Contact or visit the Registrar's Office (337-721-4000)​
  • Get application online at GeauxVote.com
  • It is highly suggested that voters choosing this method do so as early as possible so that the ballot is received by the Registrar's Office prior to the deadline.​ ​​
Mailing Absentee Ballots
  • Must be received in the Registrar's Office by the Friday prior to Election Day at 4:30pm to be counted.
  • Mailed Ballots can be TRACKED using the GeauxVote.com website.​
Drop-Off Options
  • For voters who wish to hand deliver a mail-in ballot, please call the Office of the Registrar at 337-721-4000. The office is located on the 2nd floor of the Historic Calcasieu Courthouse.
  • Drop off times: Mon - Fri 8:00 am-4:30pm 
  • Deadline for mail in ballot to be received by Registrar is the Friday prior to Election Day at 4:30pm.​ ​

​Early Voting 

8:30 am – 6:00 pm daily (closed Sunday) - All location to be open at this time
Early voting extended due to Act 365 of 2021 regular session

​Early Voting Locations: 

Lake Charles 

Calcasieu Parish Courthouse
​2nd Floor
Address: 1000 Ryan St #5
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Phone:  (337) 437-3550

Sulphur 

Sulphur City Annex
Address: 101 N Huntington St
Sulphur, LA 70663
Phone:(337) 527-4500

Moss Bluff  

Calcasieu Parish Library
261 Parish Rd
Lake Charles, LA 70611
Phone: (337) 721-7128

View Your Ballot...

To view and print your sample ballot go to geauxvote.com

​​PAR Guide (Public Affairs Research Council)

Quote of the Month

​"You cannot subsidize irresponsibility and expect people to become more responsible."
​-Thomas Sowell
​NEW T-SHIRTS  $20
"Try That in a Small Town"​
T-shirts are in, pick your up at the next monthly luncheon, buy online below or reserve yours now by contacting Jackie Hebert 337-794-0778 or email her here. 

​Announcements ​

Police Jury Meetings
1st Thursday of each month,
5:30, 901 Lakeshore Drive
​Emergency Operations Center of the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
​City Council Meetings
1st and 3rd Wednesday of
each month - 5:30 p.m.
City Council Chambers
326 Pujo St., Lake Charles La.

​The Republican Women of Southwest Louisiana is proudly affiliated with the National Federation of Republican Women and the Louisiana Federation of Republican Women.