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'''Charles Edward Karst''', known as '''Ed Karst''' (September 18, 1931<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&new=1&MSAV=1&msT=1&gss=angs-g&gsfn=Charles+Edward&gsln=Karst&msbdy=1931&msbpn__ftp=New+Orleans%2c+Orleans%2c+Louisiana%2c+USA&msbpn=34322&msbpn_PInfo=8-%7c0%7c1652393%7c0%7c2%7c3246%7c21%7c0%7c2249%7c34322%7c0%7c&cpxt=0&catBucket=rstp&uidh=upc&cp=0&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h=90068985&db=USpublicrecords2&indiv=1&ml_rpos=19|title=Charles Karst in the U.S. Public Records Index|publisher=search.ancestry.com|accessdate=January 18, 2015}}</ref> &ndash; July 17, 1992), was an [[attorney]] and [[politician]] remembered for his controversial tenure as the [[mayor]] from 1969 to 1973 of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] in Rapides Parish]] in central [[Louisiana]]. In 1991, Karst launched a bizarre "No Party" [[governor|gubernatorial]] campaign in which he threatened if elected to fire the members of the Louisiana Supreme Court, an elected body over whom the governor has no jurisdiction or, if defeated, as he was, to kill the justices, who had upheld his earlier disbarment. At times, Karst was a member of both the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] and the [[Republican Party|Republican]] parties, but he ran for governor with the "No Party" label, as permitted in Louisiana.

'''Charles Edward Karst''', known as '''Ed Karst''' (September 18, 1931<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&new=1&MSAV=1&msT=1&gss=angs-g&gsfn=Charles+Edward&gsln=Karst&msbdy=1931&msbpn__ftp=New+Orleans%2c+Orleans%2c+Louisiana%2c+USA&msbpn=34322&msbpn_PInfo=8-%7c0%7c1652393%7c0%7c2%7c3246%7c21%7c0%7c2249%7c34322%7c0%7c&cpxt=0&catBucket=rstp&uidh=upc&cp=0&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h=90068985&db=USpublicrecords2&indiv=1&ml_rpos=19|title=Charles Karst in the U.S. Public Records Index|publisher=search.ancestry.com|accessdate=January 18, 2015}}</ref> &ndash; July 17, 1992), was an [[attorney]] and [[politician]] remembered for his controversial tenure as the [[mayor]] from 1969 to 1973 of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] in Rapides Parish in central [[Louisiana]]. In 1991, Karst launched a bizarre "No Party" [[governor|gubernatorial]] campaign in which he threatened if elected to fire the members of the Louisiana Supreme Court, an elected body over whom the governor has no jurisdiction or, if defeated, as he was, to kill the justices, who had upheld his earlier disbarment. At times, Karst was a member of both the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] and the [[Republican Party|Republican]] parties, but he ran for governor with the "No Party" label, as permitted in Louisiana.

The [[New Orleans]]-born Karst, a son of Charles Karst, Jr. (1890–1981), was educated in the [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]] Jesuit High School  in New Orleans. He then attended [[Tulane University]], and Loyola University New Orleans School of Law. He relocated to Alexandria to practice law during the 1960s.

The [[New Orleans]]-born Karst, a son of Charles Karst, Jr. (1890–1981), was educated in the [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]] Jesuit High School  in New Orleans. He then attended [[Tulane University]], and Loyola University New Orleans School of Law. He relocated to Alexandria to practice law during the 1960s.

Karst hired the controversial "Radical Right" activist, Kent Harbison Courtney (1918-1997), formerly of New Orleans, as his executive assistant. It was unclear how much impact Courtney had on Karst's political decisions. Early in 1972, Karst switched his affiliation to the Republican Party and vowed to work for the establishment of a two-party system in Louisiana. In the congressional election that year, he hosted the Republican candidate, Roy Clifton Strickland (1942-2010), then a trucking executive from Ascension Parish near [[Baton Rouge]]. Strickland, who opposed the Democrat Gillis William Long (1923-1985) of Alexandria, recalls having spent the night in the Karst home during that campaign and the mayor's stated commitment to building a Republican Party (GOP).

Karst hired the controversial "Radical Right" activist, Kent Harbison Courtney (1918-1997), formerly of New Orleans, as his executive assistant. It was unclear how much impact Courtney had on Karst's political decisions. Early in 1972, Karst switched his affiliation to the Republican Party and vowed to work for the establishment of a two-party system in Louisiana. In the congressional election that year, he hosted the Republican candidate, Roy Clifton Strickland (1942-2010), then a trucking executive from Ascension Parish near [[Baton Rouge]]. Strickland, who opposed the Democrat Gillis William Long (1923-1985) of Alexandria, recalls having spent the night in the Karst home during that campaign and the mayor's stated commitment to building a Republican Party (GOP).

Karst, however, soon bowed out of municipal politics. He was critical of the commission form of government and advocated a change to the mayor-council format, which was finalized in the summer of 1977. Karst did not seek reelection as mayor in 1973. Snyder, meanwhile, defeated the favorite of the business community, reform state Representative Ralph Warren "Buzzy" Graham (1937-2014), the owner of an insurance agency. Karst watched the campaign on the sidelines.<ref>''Alexandria Town Talk'', May 19, 1973.</ref> Again, no Republicans ran for any city offices that year, but Karst soon became bored with the GOP. By 1978, he was again a Democrat and ran unsuccessfully for a 9th Judicial District judgeship in Rapides Parish.

Karst, however, soon bowed out of municipal politics. He was critical of the commission form of government and advocated a change to the mayor-council format, which was finalized in the summer of 1977. Karst did not seek reelection as mayor in 1973. Snyder, meanwhile, defeated the favorite of the business community, reform state Representative Ralph Warren "Buzzy" Graham (1937-2014), the owner of an insurance agency. Karst watched the campaign on the sidelines.<ref>''Alexandria Town Talk'', May 17, 1973.</ref> Again, no Republicans ran for any city offices that year, but Karst soon became bored with the GOP. By 1978, he was again a Democrat and ran unsuccessfully for a 9th Judicial District judgeship in Rapides Parish.

==Karst disbarred==

==Karst disbarred==