Leesville Mayor Announces Retirement After 12 Years

Rick Allen will not seek a fourth term as mayor of Leesville, Louisiana.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Rick Allen, the mayor of Leesville, Louisiana, has announced that he will not be seeking a fourth term after serving the city for 12 years. Allen, who was born and raised in Leesville, first ran for office in 2014 after his brother, a Leesville firefighter, told him about the fire chief mistreating staff. Since taking office, Allen has helped turn the city's finances around, negotiating a major intergovernmental service agreement and attracting new businesses like Champion Mobile Home.

Why it matters

Allen's decision not to run for re-election marks the end of an era for Leesville. As mayor, he has been credited with improving the city's financial health and attracting new businesses and jobs. His departure will open the door for new leadership and a potential change in the city's direction.

The details

When Allen first became mayor in 2014, he said the city was "flat broke." However, through the work of department heads and the city administrator, Leesville is now in a much stronger financial position, with $20 million in the bank and a perfect audit record since 2019. Allen also negotiated the largest intergovernmental service agreement in the world with the federal government, generating $3.26 million per year and creating up to 40 jobs. Additionally, the city was able to attract Champion Mobile Home, which filled vacant industrial park buildings and created 300 jobs.

  • Allen first took office as mayor of Leesville in 2014.
  • Allen has served as mayor for the past 12 years.
  • Allen's last day as mayor will be June 30.

The players

Rick Allen

The mayor of Leesville, Louisiana, who has served for the past 12 years and is not seeking a fourth term.

Mike Allen

Rick Allen's brother, who was a Leesville firefighter and told him about the fire chief mistreating staff, which prompted Rick Allen to run for mayor.

Patti Larney

The Leesville city administrator who has worked with Mayor Allen to improve the city's financial health.

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What they’re saying

“We have something we can hang our hat on here, to have an audit that's in the top one percent of the whole state of Louisiana.”

— Rick Allen, Mayor of Leesville (theleesvilleleader.com)

“The No. 1 reason is lack of population in the city limits, but no one wants to be annexed to increase the numbers to attract more business.”

— Rick Allen, Mayor of Leesville (theleesvilleleader.com)

“I promise the city of Leesville is more healthy now than it has ever been in its history because we have assembled the perfect team. That's what I'm good at is building, the right team.”

— Rick Allen, Mayor of Leesville (theleesvilleleader.com)

What’s next

Allen plans to complete several projects, including the sports complex and bringing a high-end hotel to the city, before his last day as mayor on June 30. After that, he plans to take a break from politics and spend time with his family.

The takeaway

Allen's decision not to seek a fourth term as mayor of Leesville marks the end of an era for the city. During his 12 years in office, he has been credited with improving the city's financial health and attracting new businesses and jobs. His departure will open the door for new leadership and a potential change in the city's direction.