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Police Chief Batton and Sheriff O. H. Haynes, Sr., net in a runoff election held on February 19, 1952. Batton unseated the senior sheriff by 43 votes, 5,444 (50.2 percent) to 5,401 (49.8 percent).<ref>"Batton Elected Sheriff," ''Minden Herald'', February 21, 1952, p. 1.</ref> On January 17, 1956, in conjunction with the successful gubernatorial comeback waged by [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]], Batton thwarted the attempt by former Sheriff Haynes, then sixty-seven, to return to office as well as the candidacy of C. Kelly McWilliams of Sarepta. Batton received 5,254 votes; Haynes, Sr., 3,134, and McWilliams, 1,493.<ref>"Batton Wins in First Primary", ''Minden Herald'', January 19, 1956, p. 1.</ref>
Police Chief Batton and Sheriff O. H. Haynes, Sr., net in a runoff election held on February 19, 1952. Batton unseated the senior sheriff by 43 votes, 5,444 (50.2 percent) to 5,401 (49.8 percent).<ref>"Batton Elected Sheriff," ''Minden Herald'', February 21, 1952, p. 1.</ref> On January 17, 1956, in conjunction with the successful gubernatorial comeback waged by [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]], Batton thwarted the attempt by former Sheriff Haynes, then sixty-seven, to return to office as well as the candidacy of C. Kelly McWilliams of Sarepta. Batton received 5,254 votes; Haynes, Sr., 3,134, and McWilliams, 1,493.<ref>"Batton Wins in First Primary", ''Minden Herald'', January 19, 1956, p. 1.</ref>
Shortly after his first reelection, Batton was named one of seventeen directors of the Webster Parish Citizens' Council, a body which sought to prevent school desegregation. Others in the council were the mortician Ed Kleinegger, Tax Assessor Richard B. Garrison, and the Minden High School principal, [[W. W. Williams, Sr.]].<ref>"Rainach to Speak at Council Meet Tomorrow Night," ''Minden Press,'' April 16, 1956, p. 1.</ref>
Shortly after his first reelection, Batton was named one of seventeen directors of the Webster Parish Citizens' Council, a body which sought to prevent school desegregation. Others in the council were the mortician Ed Kleinegger, Tax Assessor Richard B. Garrison, and the Minden High School principal, [[W. W. Williams, Sr.]].<ref>"Rainach to Speak at Council Meet Tomorrow Night," ''Minden Press,'' April 16, 1956, p. 1.</ref>
Batton's salary as sheriff in 1961 was $10,715, or $88,500 in 2019 dollars. Some $104,000 was disbursed for salaries of all the deputies.<ref>"1961 Audit Report Released for Sheriff's Salary Fund", ''Minden Herald,'' June 14, 1962, p. 1.</ref>
Batton's salary as sheriff in 1961 was $10,715, or $88,500 in 2019 dollars. Some $104,000 was disbursed for salaries of all the deputies.<ref>"1961 Audit Report Released for Sheriff's Salary Fund", ''Minden Herald,'' June 14, 1962, p. 1.</ref>
====Defeat in 1964====
====Defeat in 1964====
As sheriff, Haynes appointed the first African-American deputy, Louis Dunbar, Sr. (1914-1986),<ref>"Haynes for Sheriff: 1967 Election Guide", ''Minden Press-Herald'', October 30, 1967, p. 8.</ref> whose son "Sweet" Lou Dunbar became, like Haynes' son, a distinguished athlete.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MQelr-MNkA|title=Louis Dunbar|publisher=[[YouTube]]|accessdate=September 1, 2014}}</ref>
As sheriff, Haynes appointed the first African-American deputy, Louis Dunbar, Sr. (1914-1986),<ref>"Haynes for Sheriff: 1967 Election Guide", ''Minden Press-Herald'', October 30, 1967, p. 8.</ref> whose son "Sweet" Lou Dunbar became, like Haynes' son, a distinguished athlete.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MQelr-MNkA|title=Louis Dunbar|publisher=[[YouTube]]|accessdate=September 1, 2014}}</ref>
====The failed comeback attempt====
====The failed comeback attempt====
In November 1967, Haynes scored a second nomination as sheriff by again defeating Batton and another primary rival, Chester J. "Red" Vaughan (1909-1992), a service station operator in Springhill<ref>"'Red' Vaughan One of Three Seeking Parish Sheriff's Post", ''Minden Press-Herald'' 1967 Election Guide, p. 6.</ref> and a former city marshal, who described himself as an "independent" within the Democratic Party and was critical of "political bosses".<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', October 10, 1967, p. 2.</ref> Vaughan also challenged Haynes in regard to unsolved crimes growing in number, such as the theft of cattle and oilfield equipment and the stripping of tires and accessories from automobiles.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'' (advertisement), November 1, 1967, p. 11.</ref>
In November 1967, Haynes scored a second nomination as sheriff by again defeating Batton and another primary rival, Chester J. "Red" Vaughan (1909-1992), a service station operator in Springhill<ref>"'Red' Vaughan One of Three Seeking Parish Sheriff's Post", ''Minden Press-Herald'' 1967 Election Guide, p. 6.</ref> and a former city marshal, who described himself as an "independent" within the Democratic Party and was critical of "political bosses".<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', October 10, 1967, p. 2.</ref> Vaughan also challenged Haynes in regard to unsolved crimes growing in number, such as the theft of cattle and oilfield equipment and the stripping of tires and accessories from automobiles.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'' (advertisement), November 1, 1967, p. 11.</ref>