On Monday, January 20, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., Bill Borchert officially took the oath of office to serve as Mayor of the City of Slidell. The ceremony took place at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium and was open to the public.
This transition followed the resignation of former mayor Greg Cromer, who accepted a new position with the State of Louisiana as a Legislative Affairs Officer at the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) earlier in January. Cromer had nearly a year and a half left to complete his term as mayor. In accordance with the city’s home rule charter, Borchert, who received the most votes for council-at-large in the last election, assumed the role of mayor until a special election in October 2025 to fill the remainder of Mayor Cromer’s term.
“I want to thank Mayor Cromer for his years of service and dedication to our community and wish him the best of luck in his new role,” said Mayor Borchert. “I am excited about continuing the great things that Mayor Cromer has accomplished for the City of Slidell over the last six and a half years. It has been an honor to serve the people of Slidell as a councilman for the last 16 years, and I look forward to continuing to serve the great citizens of Slidell as mayor.”
Mayor Bill Borchert, a proud Slidell resident for over 50 years and a graduate of St. Paul’s High School and Louisiana Tech University with a degree in engineering, has dedicated his career to improving the Slidell community. As a councilman, he spearheaded major initiatives, including expediting the construction of the I-12 Sound Barrier Wall along Country Club Estates, reforming retiree benefits to save taxpayers $16 million, and securing federal grants to enhance infrastructure at Heritage Park and build the Slidell Municipal Marina. His leadership in disaster relief, through efforts such as providing over 120,000 hot meals to Gulf Coast communities with the St. Margaret Mary Men’s Club Disaster Relief Team and housing volunteers after Hurricane Katrina, has earned him national recognition, including a $25,000 grant from Catholic Charities USA. Bill and his wife Laura have also raised over $20,000 for nonprofits through charity events.
A passionate supporter of the arts and cultural development, Borchert has help to revitalize Olde Towne Slidell’s economic and cultural landscape with projects like Antique Umbrella Alley and the Camellia Glass Bloom Tree. As mayor, he aims to prioritize completing the Tammany Trace into Heritage Park, revitalizing youth sports, and improving drainage infrastructure to mitigate flooding. Bill and Laura, along with their three daughters and two grandchildren, remain actively engaged in the Slidell community, supporting local businesses, arts, and civic efforts. Mayor Borchert welcomes input from residents as they work together toward the city’s continued growth and success.
