Changes

In 1998, to secure his third term in office, Robertson overwhelmed the Minden businessman Benjamin Franklin Wright, Jr. (born 1959), a Claiborne Parish native who ran as an Independent. Robertson polled 2,697 votes (89 percent) to 331 votes (11 percent) for Wright in a low-turnout contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10031998/10031998_60.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, October 3, 1998|publisher=sos.louisiana.gov|accessdate=May 23, 2010}}</ref>​

In 1998, to secure his third term in office, Robertson overwhelmed the Minden businessman Benjamin Franklin Wright, Jr. (born 1959), a Claiborne Parish native who ran as an Independent. Robertson polled 2,697 votes (89 percent) to 331 votes (11 percent) for Wright in a low-turnout contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10031998/10031998_60.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, October 3, 1998|publisher=sos.louisiana.gov|accessdate=May 23, 2010}}</ref>​

In 2006, Wright was convicted and sentenced to twenty-five years imprisonment for three counts of video voyeurism. He filmed female customers using the dressing room in his clothing store in Minden. The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Shreveport upheld the conviction but vacated the sentence because of error. Wright was also arrested on March 18, 2004, on an allegation of having threatened to murder a child protection agent in connection with a child custody dispute. City police stopped Wright to arrest him for public intimidation and found videotapes inside his vehicle and later pornography on his computer disks. On appeal to the Second Circuit Court, the the convictions in the 26th Judicial District Court were affirmed, but the lengthy sentences were tossed out pending resentencing. Wright was represented by the Jonesboro [[attorney]] [[Bobby Culpepper]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/la-court-of-appeal/1050224.html|title=''State v. Wright''|publisher=Caselaw.findlaw.com|date=May 19, 2006|accessdate=April 8, 2019}}</ref>

In 2006, Wright was convicted and sentenced to twenty-five years imprisonment for three counts of video voyeurism. He filmed female customers using the dressing room in his clothing store in Minden. The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Shreveport upheld the conviction but vacated the sentence because of error. Wright was also arrested on March 18, 2004, on an allegation of having threatened to murder a child protection agent in connection with a child custody dispute. City police stopped Wright to arrest him for public intimidation and found videotapes inside his vehicle and later pornography on his computer disks. On appeal to the Second Circuit Court, the convictions in the 26th Judicial District Court were affirmed, but the lengthy sentences were tossed out pending resentencing. Wright was represented by the Jonesboro [[attorney]] [[Bobby Culpepper]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/la-court-of-appeal/1050224.html|title=''State v. Wright''|publisher=Caselaw.findlaw.com|date=May 19, 2006|accessdate=April 8, 2019}}</ref>

No opponent filed against Robertson in 2002.​

No opponent filed against Robertson in 2002.​

Four years later, Robertson faced three challengers in his 2006 reelection bid. [[Photographer]] John Edward Quade (born 1947), a Democrat, was eliminated in the primary. He is a 1966 graduate of Minden High School, the son of Stanley B. and Elnora Davis Quade and the great-grandson of Webster Parish pioneer [[William G. Stewart]], a former president of the Webster Parish School Board for whom the former William G. Stewart Elementary School in Minden was named. Republican Al Hortman ran sufficiently strong to force Robertson into a second round of balloting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/09302006/09302006_60.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, September 30, 2006|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=June 29, 2013}}</ref> Hortman (born 1941) graduated in 1959 from Minden High School. He resided over the years in [[Dallas]], [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], and [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]] but returned to Minden to care for his ailing mother,<ref name=hortman/> Katherine Marie Fish Hortman (1909–2003).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.genealogybuff.com/la/la-webster-obits6.htm|title=Obituary of Katherine Fish Hortman|publisher=genealogybuff.com|accessdate=October 18, 2012}}</ref>

Four years later, Robertson faced three challengers in his 2006 reelection bid. [[Photographer]] John Edward Quade (born 1947), a Democrat, was eliminated in the primary. He is a 1966 graduate of Minden High School, the son of Stanley B. and Elnora Davis Quade and the great-grandson of Webster Parish pioneer [[William G. Stewart]], a former president of the Webster Parish School Board for whom the former William G. Stewart Elementary School in Minden was named. Republican Al Hortman ran sufficiently strong to force Robertson into a second round of balloting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/09302006/09302006_60.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, September 30, 2006|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=June 29, 2013}}</ref> Hortman (born 1941) graduated in 1959 from Minden High School. He resided over the years in [[Dallas]], [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], and [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]] but returned to Minden to care for his ailing mother,<ref name=hortman/> Katherine Marie Fish Hortman (1909–2003).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.genealogybuff.com/la/la-webster-obits6.htm|title=Obituary of Katherine Fish Hortman|publisher=genealogybuff.com|accessdate=October 18, 2012}}</ref>

Hortman served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] as an intelligence operative. As part of his training, he attended [[Yale University]] in New Haven, [[Connecticut]], where he completed an intensive eight-month course in the Chinese language. He thereafter earned a bachelor's degree in [[mathematics]], with a minor in Chines], from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]]. He also received a master's degree from Louisiana Tech in education as well during the time of the mayoral campaign.<ref name=hortman>Hortman candidacy for mayor of Minden, ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 14, 2006, p. 1.</ref>​

Hortman served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] as an intelligence operative. As part of his training, he attended [[Yale University]] in New Haven, [[Connecticut]], where he completed an intensive eight-month course in the Chinese language. He thereafter earned a bachelor's degree in [[mathematics]], with a minor in Chines, from [[Louisiana Tech University]] in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]]. He also received a master's degree from Louisiana Tech in education as well during the time of the mayoral campaign.<ref name=hortman>Hortman candidacy for mayor of Minden, ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 14, 2006, p. 1.</ref>​

Hortman was the president of a group of citizens who drafted the Minden 2020 Visionaries Master Plan, a 20-year proposal for long-range community progress. The plan was developed over a two-year period prior to 2000. Some 150 Minden citizens worked on the project which Hortman spearheaded.<ref name=hortman/>​

Hortman was the president of a group of citizens who drafted the Minden 2020 Visionaries Master Plan, a 20-year proposal for long-range community progress. The plan was developed over a two-year period prior to 2000. Some 150 Minden citizens worked on the project which Hortman spearheaded.<ref name=hortman/>​

==Robertson as mayor==

==Robertson as mayor==

During Robertson’s tenure, some 85 percent of the city streets were overlaid, and major upgrades were completed on the electrical, wastewater, and water systems. Many of the projects were funded through state and federal grants. Robertson has pledged to keep electrical rates—the city operates its own power plant—among the lowest in the state.

During Robertson's tenure, some 85 percent of the city streets were overlaid, and major upgrades were completed on the electrical, wastewater, and water systems. Many of the projects were funded through state and federal grants. Robertson has pledged to keep electrical rates—the city operates its own power plant—among the lowest in the state.

The city partnered with the Minden/South Webster Chamber of Commerce to establish an office to conduct economic development services. A new director was hired to work on the expansion of local businesses and to attract new employers. Robertson said that the city sought to attract new industry and entice such new businesses as a movie theatre, skating rink, bowling alley, and additional restaurants. At one time, Minden had two sit-down theaters and a drive-in theater. The last theater closed in the late 1970s.

The city partnered with the Minden/South Webster Chamber of Commerce to establish an office to conduct economic development services. A new director was hired to work on the expansion of local businesses and to attract new employers. Robertson said that the city sought to attract new industry and entice such new businesses as a movie theatre, skating rink, bowling alley, and additional restaurants. At one time, Minden had two sit-down theaters and a drive-in theater. The last theater closed in the late 1970s.