Changes

Randy Byars<br>

Randy Byars<br>

Richard Byars

Richard Byars

| residence=Beaumont, [[Texas]]

| residence=Beaumont, [[Texas]]

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Byars said that his lack of political experience was an asset because he was "not obligated to any person or political faction". He would demand, he said, greater openness in city government because many municipal employees were fearful of speaking out: "I plan to stop this immediately and to offer any and all the opportunity to speak up without fear of reprisal."<ref>"Dr. Noel Byars candidate for Minden mayor's post", ''Minden Press-Herald'', April 27, 1982, p. 1.</ref> Six years later, Mayor Byars instead ordered city employees not to meet with media representatives.<ref>Sonny Jeane, "Mayor orders city employees not to meet with news media", Minden Press-Herald, July 24, 1988, p. 1.</ref>The ''Minden Press-Herald'' editorially opposed Byars' election and urged that he withdraw from the race. A newspaper investigation questioned his past employment record and his suitability for managing municipal finances.<ref>"Press-Herald urges Byars withdraw", ''Minden Press-Herald'', October 27, 1982, p. 2A.</ref>

Byars said that his lack of political experience was an asset because he was "not obligated to any person or political faction". He would demand, he said, greater openness in city government because many municipal employees were fearful of speaking out: "I plan to stop this immediately and to offer any and all the opportunity to speak up without fear of reprisal."<ref>"Dr. Noel Byars candidate for Minden mayor's post", ''Minden Press-Herald'', April 27, 1982, p. 1.</ref> Six years later, Mayor Byars instead ordered city employees not to meet with media representatives.<ref>Sonny Jeane, "Mayor orders city employees not to meet with news media", Minden Press-Herald, July 24, 1988, p. 1.</ref>The ''Minden Press-Herald'' editorially opposed Byars' election and urged that he withdraw from the race. A newspaper investigation questioned his past employment record and his suitability for managing municipal finances.<ref>"Press-Herald urges Byars withdraw", ''Minden Press-Herald'', October 27, 1982, p. 2A.</ref>

In the 1982 primary election, Byars led two other candidates. One was the insurance agent James Tenney "Jim" Branch Jr. (June 27, 1927 – June 15, 2010), a native of [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], a graduate of [[Louisiana State University]], a former president of the American Legion, chairman of the Minden Medical Center board, the 1984 Minden Lions International and Chamber of Commerce "Man of the Year",<ref>"Jim Branch is Man of the Year", ''Minden Press-Herald'', February 1, 1985, p. 1.</ref>  and a former member and president of the Webster Parish Police Jury whose service on the parish governing body began in 1968.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=.,james-tenney-branch-jim&pid=143606794|title=James Tenney "Jim" Branch Jr.|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=June 17, 2010}}</ref> In 1973, Branch had won reelection to the police jury by three disputed votes over his [ African-American]] intra-party opponent, Joe Kirk.<ref>"Branch Wins Jury Seat by Three-Vote Margin," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 1, 1973, p. 1.</ref>Kirk then filed suit against the Webster Parish Democratic Executive Committee, having alleged that not all of his votes had been counted.<ref>"Kirk Files Suit Against Democratic Executive Committee," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 30, 1973, p. 1.</ref> Byars' other opponent was [[J.E. "Pat" Patterson]], Batton's predecessor as mayor from 1974 to 1978. Byars polled 1,957 votes (42.5 percent) to Branch's 1,446 (31.4 percent), and Patterson's 1,207 (26.2 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/09111982/09111982_60.html|title=Louisiana primary election, September 11, 1982|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 21, 2013}}</ref>

In the 1982 primary election, Byars led two other candidates. One was the insurance agent James Tenney "Jim" Branch Jr. (June 27, 1927 – June 15, 2010), a native of [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], a graduate of [[Louisiana State University]], a former president of the American Legion, chairman of the Minden Medical Center board, the 1984 Minden Lions International and Chamber of Commerce "Man of the Year",<ref>"Jim Branch is Man of the Year", ''Minden Press-Herald'', February 1, 1985, p. 1.</ref>  and a former member and president of the Webster Parish Police Jury whose service on the parish governing body began in 1968.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=.,james-tenney-branch-jim&pid=143606794|title=James Tenney "Jim" Branch Jr.|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=June 17, 2010}}</ref> In 1973, Branch had won reelection to the police jury by three disputed votes over his [ African-American]] intra-party opponent, Joe Kirk.<ref>"Branch Wins Jury Seat by Three-Vote Margin," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 1, 1973, p. 1.</ref>Kirk then filed suit against the Webster Parish Democratic Executive Committee, having alleged that not all of his votes had been counted.<ref>"Kirk Files Suit Against Democratic Executive Committee," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 30, 1973, p. 1.</ref> Byars' other opponent was [[J. E. "Pat" Patterson]], Batton's predecessor as mayor from 1974 to 1978. Byars polled 1,957 votes (42.5 percent) to Branch's 1,446 (31.4 percent), and Patterson's 1,207 (26.2 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/09111982/09111982_60.html|title=Louisiana primary election, September 11, 1982|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 21, 2013}}</ref>

In the all-Democrat [[general election]], as permitted under the Louisiana blanket primary law, held on November 2, 1982, Byars handily defeated Branch, 2,642 (57.3 percent) to 1,968 (42.7 percent), despite the editorial posture of the local newspaper. Voters also replaced the police chief, Jim Lee Stanfield (1937-2007), with businessman Chester Adcock (1925-1995), 2,721 (59.5 percent) to 1,852 votes (40.5 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11021982/11021982_60.html|title=Louisiana general election returns, November 2, 1982|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 21, 2013}}</ref> Byars hence assumed the mayor's office on December 31, 1982. He soon ran into problems with the city council. In 1984, the council denied Byars new office furniture and accessories until he could "show where he has the authority to purchase furniture and accessories or show us the items [earmarked] in the budget."<ref name=furn>"Byars will fight council decision", ''Minden Press-Herald'', February 9, 1984, p. 1.</ref> Byars said that the council by its questioning of him had ignored the voters' intent and sought to nullify the last mayoral election.<ref name=furn/>

In the all-Democrat [[general election]], as permitted under the Louisiana blanket primary law, held on November 2, 1982, Byars handily defeated Branch, 2,642 (57.3 percent) to 1,968 (42.7 percent), despite the editorial posture of the local newspaper. Voters also replaced the police chief, Jim Lee Stanfield (1937-2007), with businessman Chester Adcock (1925-1995), 2,721 (59.5 percent) to 1,852 votes (40.5 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11021982/11021982_60.html|title=Louisiana general election returns, November 2, 1982|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 21, 2013}}</ref> Byars hence assumed the mayor's office on December 31, 1982. He soon ran into problems with the city council. In 1984, the council denied Byars new office furniture and accessories until he could "show where he has the authority to purchase furniture and accessories or show us the items [earmarked] in the budget."<ref name=furn>"Byars will fight council decision", ''Minden Press-Herald'', February 9, 1984, p. 1.</ref> Byars said that the council by its questioning of him had ignored the voters' intent and sought to nullify the last mayoral election.<ref name=furn/>

While Byars could have faced ten years imprisonment and heavy fines, then District Judge Richard Harmon Drew, Jr.,  of Minden lectured him on ethic] and sentenced him to five thousand hours of community service. Byars was initially ordered to teach  inmates at the David Wade Correctional Cente in Homer in neighboring Claiborne Parish. Parish]] over a four-year period. Judge Drew said that he had "bent over backwards to be fair" in the case though Byars had complained that officials had a "political vendetta" against him.<ref name=byars>Marilyn Miller, "Byars gets public works sentence: Must spend 5,000 hours teaching Wade inmates", ''Minden Press-Herald'', April 28, 1989, p. 1.</ref>

While Byars could have faced ten years imprisonment and heavy fines, then District Judge Richard Harmon Drew, Jr.,  of Minden lectured him on ethic] and sentenced him to five thousand hours of community service. Byars was initially ordered to teach  inmates at the David Wade Correctional Cente in Homer in neighboring Claiborne Parish. Parish]] over a four-year period. Judge Drew said that he had "bent over backwards to be fair" in the case though Byars had complained that officials had a "political vendetta" against him.<ref name=byars>Marilyn Miller, "Byars gets public works sentence: Must spend 5,000 hours teaching Wade inmates", ''Minden Press-Herald'', April 28, 1989, p. 1.</ref>

However, Byars never served the five thousand hours of community service nor taught at the Wade Correctional Center. The Louisiana Supreme Court said that Judge Drew's sentence was excessive for the crime committed and ordered a resentencing.<ref>Marilyn Miller, "Byars wins resentencing bid", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 3, 1990, p. 1.</ref> Drew instead reduced the sentence to $1,000 in fines and court costs and allowed Byars' work on a booklet that he had written, ''Louisiana Teachers Guide'', count as the public service component of the sentence.<ref>"Byars receives reduced sentence Friday: 5,000 community hours set aside by judge", ''Minden Press-Herald'', October 21, 1991, p. 1.</ref> Judge Drew questioned why Byars had been compelled to leave two undisclosed school systems in Texas and required to make restitution for funds that he allegedly misused: "The disturbing thing is your pattern of behavior. You consistently denied wrongdoing [in Texas], and the bottom line is that no criminal charges were filed." Drew further accused Byars of having misled the Webster Parish School Board when he procured doctoral compensation while employed by the local school system for a degree, not from Texas Tech, as he had originally pursued but from the [[University of Sarasota]], which Drew called a "[[diploma mill]]". Drew added: "Your poor judgment has made you and your family suffer a great deal." Drew delayed implementation of the sentence pending Byars' appeal by his attorney, Richard Goorley, to the state circuit court of appeal. However, the circuit court in turn declined to overturn Judge Drew's ruling. Drew now serves on that same circuit court.<ref name=byars/>

However, Byars never served the five thousand hours of community service nor taught at the Wade Correctional Center. The Louisiana Supreme Court said that Judge Drew's sentence was excessive for the crime committed and ordered a resentencing.<ref>Marilyn Miller, "Byars wins resentencing bid", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 3, 1990, p. 1.</ref> Drew instead reduced the sentence to $1,000 in fines and court costs and allowed Byars' work on a booklet that he had written, ''Louisiana Teachers Guide'', count as the public service component of the sentence.<ref>"Byars receives reduced sentence Friday: 5,000 community hours set aside by judge", ''Minden Press-Herald'', October 21, 1991, p. 1.</ref> Judge Drew questioned why Byars had been compelled to leave two undisclosed school systems in Texas and required to make restitution for funds that he allegedly misused: "The disturbing thing is your pattern of behavior. You consistently denied wrongdoing [in Texas], and the bottom line is that no criminal charges were filed." Drew further accused Byars of having misled the Webster Parish School Board when he procured doctoral compensation while employed by the local school system for a degree, not from Texas Tech, as he had originally pursued but from the [[University of Sarasota]], which Drew called a "diploma mill". Drew added: "Your poor judgment has made you and your family suffer a great deal." Drew delayed implementation of the sentence pending Byars' appeal by his attorney, Richard Goorley, to the state circuit court of appeal. However, the circuit court in turn declined to overturn Judge Drew's ruling. Drew now serves on that same circuit court.<ref name=byars/>

On conviction, Byars forfeited the mayor's position. On February 6, city council member [[Robert T. Tobin]], a retired African American educator and church deacon, was named interim mayor.<ref>"Robert Tobin appointed interim mayor", ''Minden Press-Herald'', January 31, 1989, p. 1.</ref> Tobin served until his defeat in the special election held in November 1989 for the year remaining in Byars' term.

On conviction, Byars forfeited the mayor's position. On February 6, city council member [[Robert T. Tobin]], a retired African American educator and church deacon, was named interim mayor.<ref>"Robert Tobin appointed interim mayor", ''Minden Press-Herald'', January 31, 1989, p. 1.</ref> Tobin served until his defeat in the special election held in November 1989 for the year remaining in Byars' term.

Though an unnamed city coucilwoman had in an interview with a newspaper in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] once called Byars "a perpetual candidate",<ref>"Byars: 'I'm not a perpetual candidate'", ''Minden Press-Herald'', March 20, 1988, p. 1</ref> his political career ended quickly with the recall. Byars soon relocated from Minden to Beaumont.

Though an unnamed city coucilwoman had in an interview with a newspaper in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] once called Byars "a perpetual candidate",<ref>"Byars: 'I'm not a perpetual candidate'", ''Minden Press-Herald'', March 20, 1988, p. 1</ref> his political career ended quickly with the recall. Byars soon relocated from Minden to Beaumont.

References ==

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