Changes

==Election as mayor==

==Election as mayor==

In 1982, Byars was a sixth-grade teacher at Phillips Middle School in Minden and a board member of the Selective Service System  of Northwest Louisiana. He ran for mayor when the one-term incumbent, [[Jack Batton]], a local [[business]]man and civic figure first elected in 1978, declined to seek a second term. Batton had also served on the Minden City Council, originally as streets and parks commissioner, from 1946 to 1962 and again from 1966 to 1978. He was the younger brother of former Webster Parish Sheriff J. D. Batton.<ref name=MPH>"Byars, Adcock easy victors", ''Minden Press-Herald'', November 3, 1982, p. 1.</ref>

In 1982, Byars was a sixth-grade teacher at Phillips Middle School in Minden and a board member of the Selective Service System  of Northwest Louisiana. He ran for mayor when the one-term incumbent, [[Jack Batton]], a local [[business]]man and civic figure first elected in 1978, declined to seek a second term. Batton had also served on the Minden City Council, originally as streets and parks commissioner, from 1946 to 1962 and again from 1966 to 1978. He was the younger brother of former Webster Parish Sheriff [[J. D. Batton]].<ref name=MPH>"Byars, Adcock easy victors", ''Minden Press-Herald'', November 3, 1982, p. 1.</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>

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>