Changes

==Karst and the GOP==

==Karst and the GOP==

Karst hired the controversial "Radical Right" activist, Kent Harbison Courtney (1918-1997), formerly of New Orleans, as his executive assistant. It was unclear how much impact Courtney had on Karst's political decisions. Early in 1972, Karst switched his affiliation to the Republican Party and vowed to work for the establishment of a two-party system in Louisiana. In the congressional election that year, he hosted the Republican candidate, Roy Clifton Strickland (1942-2010), then a trucking executive from Ascension Parish near [[Baton Rouge]]. Strickland, who opposed the Democrat Gillis William Long (1923-1985) of Alexandria, recalls having spent the night in the Karst home during that campaign and the mayor's stated commitment to building a Republican Party (GOP).

Karst hired the controversial "Radical Right" activist, [[Kent Courtney]], formerly of New Orleans and later a resident of Avoyelles Parish, as his executive assistant. It was unclear how much impact Courtney had on Karst's political decisions. Early in 1972, Karst switched his affiliation to the Republican Party and vowed to work for the establishment of a two-party system in Louisiana. In the congressional election that year, he hosted the Republican candidate, Roy Clifton Strickland (1942-2010), then a trucking executive from Ascension Parish near [[Baton Rouge]]. Strickland, who opposed the Democrat Gillis William Long (1923-1985) of Alexandria, recalls having spent the night in the Karst home during that campaign and the mayor's stated commitment to building a Republican Party (GOP).

Karst, however, soon bowed out of municipal politics. He was critical of the commission form of government and advocated a change to the mayor-council format, which was finalized in the summer of 1977. Karst did not seek reelection as mayor in 1973. Snyder, meanwhile, defeated the favorite of the business community, reform state Representative Ralph Warren "Buzzy" Graham (1937-2014), the owner of an insurance agency. Karst watched the campaign on the sidelines.<ref>''Alexandria Town Talk'', May 17, 1973.</ref> Again, no Republicans ran for any city offices that year, but Karst soon became bored with the GOP. By 1978, he was again a Democrat and ran unsuccessfully for a 9th Judicial District judgeship in Rapides Parish.

Karst, however, soon bowed out of municipal politics. He was critical of the commission form of government and advocated a change to the mayor-council format, which was finalized in the summer of 1977. Karst did not seek reelection as mayor in 1973. Snyder, meanwhile, defeated the favorite of the business community, reform state Representative Ralph Warren "Buzzy" Graham (1937-2014), the owner of an insurance agency. Karst watched the campaign on the sidelines.<ref>''Alexandria Town Talk'', May 17, 1973.</ref> Again, no Republicans ran for any city offices that year, but Karst soon became bored with the GOP. By 1978, he was again a Democrat and ran unsuccessfully for a 9th Judicial District judgeship in Rapides Parish.