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→Early political activities
In September 1974, Robertson was elected to the Minden City Council. He defeated fellow Democrat Patrick Cary Nation (1918–2005), a retired educator, coach, and school principal, for the specific position of sanitation commissioner. Robertson was the last person to serve in that capacity. Nation's father, Abraham Brisco Nation, Sr. (1886–1933), had served as a city councilman from 1932 until he was shot to death on Armistice Day 1933, during a heated political argument, by John L. Fort (1906–1992), a son of then Mayor [[Connell Fort]], with whom the senior Nation had quarreled.<ref>"Fort Will Be Held in Caddo Parish On Murder Charges," ''Webster Signal-Tribune,'' November 14, 1933, p. 1.</ref>
In September 1974, Robertson was elected to the Minden City Council. He defeated fellow Democrat Patrick Cary Nation (1918–2005), a retired educator, coach, and school principal, for the specific position of sanitation commissioner. Robertson was the last person to serve in that capacity. Nation's father, Abraham Brisco Nation, Sr. (1886–1933), had served as a city councilman from 1932 until he was shot to death on Armistice Day 1933, during a heated political argument, by John L. Fort (1906–1992), a son of then Mayor [[Connell Fort]], with whom the senior Nation had quarreled.<ref>"Fort Will Be Held in Caddo Parish On Murder Charges," ''Webster Signal-Tribune,'' November 14, 1933, p. 1.</ref>
Robertson took office on the city council in January 1975 and served until the abolition of the city commission government in 1978, when it was replaced by the current single-member-district mayor-council format.
Robertson took office on the city council on January 1, 1975, and served until the abolition of the city commission government in 1978, when it was replaced by the current single-member-district mayor-council format.
Thereafter, Robertson was elected to the Webster Parish Police Jury in 1979 from the District 6 seat, a position that he held until 1990, when he resigned with a year remaining in his third term in order to become mayor of Minden.
Thereafter, Robertson was elected to the Webster Parish Police Jury in 1979 from the District 6 seat, a position that he held until 1990, when he resigned with a year remaining in his third term in order to become mayor of Minden.
When Robertson successfully sought reelection to the police jury in 1983, he listed solid waste disposal and jail/penal farm issues as his top concern.<ref>"Robertson seeks reelection", ''Minden Press-Herald'', August 18, 1983, p. 1.</ref> Five new jurors won election in 1983, and Robertson was elected jury president early in 1984.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', January 10, 1984, p. 1</ref>
When Robertson successfully sought reelection to the police jury in 1983, he listed solid waste disposal and jail/penal farm issues as his top concern.<ref>"Robertson seeks reelection", ''Minden Press-Herald'', August 18, 1983, p. 1.</ref> Five new jurors won election in 1983, and Robertson was elected jury president early in 1984.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', January 10, 1984, p. 1</ref>
==Losing mayoral campaign, 1989==
==Losing mayoral campaign, 1989==
Robertson ran unsuccessfully for mayor in the 1989 [[special election]] called to fill the remaining months of the term of Democrat, Noel "Gene" Byars, who had been recalled from the position in a "Yes" or "No" vote after a citizens' audit revealed that he had charged personal expenses to his municipal credit card. Robertson and two preceding Democratic mayors, [[J. E. "Pat" Patterson]] and [[Jack Batton]], contributed money to the recall. Byars hence left Minden and took a job in educational administration in [[Beaumont]], [[Texas]].
Robertson ran unsuccessfully for mayor in the 1989 [[special election]] called to fill the remaining months of the term of Democrat, Noel "Gene" Byars, who had been recalled from the position in a "Yes" or "No" vote after a citizens' audit revealed that he had charged personal expenses to his municipal credit card. Robertson and two preceding Democratic mayors, [[J. E. "Pat" Patterson]] and [[Jack Batton]], contributed money to the recall. Byars hence left Minden and took a job in educational administration in [[Beaumont]], [[Texas]].