About the Mayor
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A life-long resident of Lake Charles and small business owner, Nic Hunter was elected to the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury in 2011 and was in his second term serving as representative for District Five when he was elected to the office of Mayor of Lake Charles on Saturday, April 29, 2017.
Early in life Mayor Hunter acquired his work ethic by bussing tables and washing dishes at his grandparents’ restaurant, Harlequin Steaks & Seafood, which they opened in 1956. With his grandmother’s blessing, he began running the restaurant full time at the age of 17. Today he is a partner in The Villa Harlequin restaurant.
Mayor Hunter graduated from St. Louis Catholic High School in 2002. In 2007, he received a Bachelor of Arts in History from McNeese State University. Mayor Hunter is a proud graduate and supporter of the university. He established an endowed scholarship through the McNeese State University Foundation, the Dr. Robert Forrest History Scholarship.
Since taking office on July 1, 2017, Mayor Hunter has successfully enacted a number of key initiatives, including increasing funding for drainage improvements by 93 percent. He launched the Partners in Parks Initiative in July 2018, securing more than $500,000 in private donations and grants. These funds have been used to transform several City parks and re-invigorate programming while inspiring various community and civic organizations to partner with the City. The Partners in Parks Initiative received a first place Community Achievement Award from the Louisiana Municipal Association in August 2019.
In July 2019 Mayor Hunter proposed and received unanimous City Council approval on a one-time $5 million supplemental infrastructure package aimed and expediting much needed street, sidewalk and transportation projects Citywide. This historic amount has allowed the City to begin road and infrastructure improvements that have been needed for many years.
Making good on his promise to “turn dirt on the lakefront,” Mayor Hunter announced the lakefront development project Port Wonder, a $20 million plus science and nature center and state of the art children’s museum. This historic project was made possible by securing dozens of public and private funding partners.
With a deep love for the community and a passion to give back to the City Mayor Hunter has always looked for ways to encourage philanthropy and the entrepreneurial spirit in others. Several efforts that he has focused on specifically have been children in need in SWLA, efforts to support active military and military veterans, and encouraging animal adoption. Working with United Way and the Community Foundation, Mayor Hunter has rallied hundreds of thousands of dollars for such efforts in his tenure as mayor.
Mayor Hunter has been married to his wife, Becky, an accomplished lawyer in Southwest Louisiana since 2015. They welcomed their first born, a son named Harrison, into the world in August 2017 and their daughter, Colette, in February 2020. Together, they have 3 rescue dogs: Humphrey, Boris and Jolene.
Awards
2008: Times of Southwest Louisiana’s “Up & Coming Under 40”
2011: Family & Youth Counseling Agency’s “Philanthropist of the Year Award”
2011: Mayor’s Armed Forces Committee’s “Patriot of the Year Award”
2011: Association of Fundraising Professionals Southwest Louisiana Chapter’s “Philanthropy Day 2011 Honoree”
2013: “The Louisiana Distinguished Civilian Service Medal,” presented by the Louisiana National Guard
2017-2018: Diocese of Lake Charles Citizen of the Year, presented by Msgr. Cramer's Assembly, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus
2018: Alliance for Positive Growth Annual Awards Public Servant Elected Category
2018: Humanitarian of the Year, presented by Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Louisiana - 7th Masonic District PHA
2018: Voted Best Area Mayor by the readers of Lagniappe Magazine. Lagniappe Magazine readers also consistently voted Nic “Best Police Juror” in Calcasieu Parish during his time of service as a Juror.