Changes

In the spring of 1973, Hébert unseated [[O'Hearn Mathews]] to win the streets and parks commissioner position.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://law.justia.com/cases/louisiana/supreme-court/1972/261-la-850-0.html|title=''Bonnette v. Karst''|publisher=law.justia.com|accessdate=June 7, 2014}}</ref> Mathews was an experienced politician, having previously been the Alexandria city [[marshal]] and in 1962 the first president of the newly formed Louisiana City Marshals and City Constables Association.<ref>Louisiana City Marshals and City Constables Association, Organized April 8, 1962, Lamarshals.org, accessed June 7, 2014; no longer on line.</ref>

In the spring of 1973, Hébert unseated [[O'Hearn Mathews]] to win the streets and parks commissioner position.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://law.justia.com/cases/louisiana/supreme-court/1972/261-la-850-0.html|title=''Bonnette v. Karst''|publisher=law.justia.com|accessdate=June 7, 2014}}</ref> Mathews was an experienced politician, having previously been the Alexandria city [[marshal]] and in 1962 the first president of the newly formed Louisiana City Marshals and City Constables Association.<ref>Louisiana City Marshals and City Constables Association, Organized April 8, 1962, Lamarshals.org, accessed June 7, 2014; no longer on line.</ref>

On the council, Hébert served alongside [[Mayor]] [[John K. Snyder]], who was also the commissioner of public safety and sanitation, and Arnold Jack Rosenthal, the last of the Alexandria commissioners of finance and utilities. All were [[Democratic Party|Democrats]]. At times, he and Snyder made two-to-one decisions overruling Rosenthal, even regarding appointments in Rosenthal's own department of his executive assistant, the late Floyd W. Smith Jr., the former mayor of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], Louisiana. Snyder and Hebert in 1974 joined to dismiss Smith despite Rosenthal's heated opposition.<ref>Bret H. McCormick, Floyd W. Smith, Jr., former mayor of Pineville, dies at 77, ''The Alexandria  Town Talk'', February 12, 2010.</ref>

On the council, Hébert served alongside [[Mayor]] [[John K. Snyder]], who was also the commissioner of public safety and sanitation, and Arnold Jack Rosenthal, the last of the Alexandria commissioners of finance and utilities. All were [[Democratic Party|Democrats]]. At times, he and Snyder made two-to-one decisions overruling Rosenthal, even regarding appointments in Rosenthal's own department of his executive assistant, [[Floyd Smith]], the former mayor of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], Louisiana. Snyder and Hébert in 1974 joined to dismiss Smith despite Rosenthal's heated opposition.<ref>Bret H. McCormick, Floyd W. Smith, Jr., former mayor of Pineville, dies at 77, ''The Alexandria  Town Talk'', February 12, 2010.</ref>

As commissioner, Hébert exercised both executive and legislative functions through supervision of his department and as a member of the three-person city council, all of whom were elected on an at-large basis. He supervised the repair and upgrading of municipal streets and sewer operations, encouraged youth sports programs, and worked to expand Alexandria Zoological Park, then a small facility begun in 1926. Located adjacent to Bringhurst Field, the zoo has since been enlarged to attract thousands of visitors annually from throughout Central Louisiana. He once cared for several abandoned lion cubs and a monkey in his own home.<ref name=bio/> As commissioner, Hebert in 1974 hired Les Whitt as the director of the Alexandria Zoo, a position in which Whitt achieved great success in a 34-year career.<ref>"Alexandria Zoo Director Les Whitt dies"''The Alexandria Town Talk'', August 17, 2008, p. 1.</ref>

As commissioner, Hébert exercised both executive and legislative functions through supervision of his department and as a member of the three-person city council, all of whom were elected on an at-large basis. He supervised the repair and upgrading of municipal streets and sewer operations, encouraged youth sports programs, and worked to expand Alexandria Zoological Park, then a small facility begun in 1926. Located adjacent to Bringhurst Field, the zoo has since been enlarged to attract thousands of visitors annually from throughout Central Louisiana. He once cared for several abandoned lion cubs and a monkey in his own home.<ref name=bio/> As commissioner, Hebert in 1974 hired Les Whitt as the director of the Alexandria Zoo, a position in which Whitt achieved great success in a 34-year career.<ref>"Alexandria Zoo Director Les Whitt dies"''The Alexandria Town Talk'', August 17, 2008, p. 1.</ref>