Changes

Allen led his city during a time of transition and racial moderation. The city population grew, particularly the mostly white outlying residential areas. And new industry came to Shreveport, but critics said it was never sufficient to provide jobs for all who sought work. In time, blacks became the majority of Shreveport's population and a political force of immense proportions within the municipality. Caddo Parish, as a whole, however, remained majority white.​

Allen led his city during a time of transition and racial moderation. The city population grew, particularly the mostly white outlying residential areas. And new industry came to Shreveport, but critics said it was never sufficient to provide jobs for all who sought work. In time, blacks became the majority of Shreveport's population and a political force of immense proportions within the municipality. Caddo Parish, as a whole, however, remained majority white.​

[[Charles Scott], a native of [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], Louisiana, began his judicial career in the Allen administration as an assistant city attorney from 1971 to 1973. He was subsequently a long-term state court judge and from 2009 until his death in office on April 22, 2015, the Caddo Parish district attorney.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2015/04/22/da-charles-scott-death-huge-loss/26193017/|title=DA Charles Scott's death 'huge loss' for area|author=John Andrew Prime|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=April 22, 2015|accessdate=April 25, 2015}}</ref>​

[[Charles Scott]], a native of [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], Louisiana, began his judicial career in the Allen administration as an assistant city attorney from 1971 to 1973. He was subsequently a long-term state court judge and from 2009 until his death in office on April 22, 2015, the Caddo Parish district attorney.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2015/04/22/da-charles-scott-death-huge-loss/26193017/|title=DA Charles Scott's death 'huge loss' for area|author=John Andrew Prime|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=April 22, 2015|accessdate=April 25, 2015}}</ref>​

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In 1971, a Republican, [[George A. Burton]], won a [[special election]] in Shreveport for the vacant position of finance commissioner created by the death of Dwight Saur. A Certified Public Accountant, Burton ran again in the regular 1974 elections. That year, he had the tacit support of "independent" Mayor Allen, who swept to an easy reelection. Burton polled 17,488 votes (68.8 percent), while the Democrat (later Republican) David R. Carroll (1926–2011), a [[Mississippi]] native and a Caddo Parish police juror,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=david-r-carroll&pid=152770391|title=David R. Carroll obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=July 27, 2011|accessdate=August 4, 2011}}</ref> received 7,938 ballots (31.2 percent). Burton's running mate, Billy Guin, polled 43.7 percent in his second contest—the first was in 1970—against incumbent Democratic Public Utilities Commissioner William "Bill" Collins, who had succeeded Allen in that position. A civil engineer and a businessman, Guin also entered another special election for utilities commissioner in 1977, when Collins resigned the post. Guin won with 51 percent of the vote and served the remaining year and a half of Collins' second term. He implemented many reforms in the department and then ran unsuccessfully in 1978 as a Republican candidate for mayor under the new form of city government.​

In 1971, a Republican, [[George A. Burton]], won a [[special election]] in Shreveport for the vacant position of finance commissioner created by the death of Dwight Saur. A Certified Public Accountant, Burton ran again in the regular 1974 elections. That year, he had the tacit support of "independent" Mayor Allen, who swept to an easy reelection. Burton polled 17,488 votes (68.8 percent), while the Democrat (later Republican) David R. Carroll (1926–2011), a [[Mississippi]] native and a Caddo Parish police juror,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=david-r-carroll&pid=152770391|title=David R. Carroll obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=July 27, 2011|accessdate=August 4, 2011}}</ref> received 7,938 ballots (31.2 percent). Burton's running mate, Billy Guin, polled 43.7 percent in his second contest—the first was in 1970—against incumbent Democratic Public Utilities Commissioner William "Bill" Collins, who had succeeded Allen in that position. A civil engineer and a businessman, Guin also entered another special election for utilities commissioner in 1977, when Collins resigned the post. Guin won with 51 percent of the vote and served the remaining year and a half of Collins' second term. He implemented many reforms in the department and then ran unsuccessfully in 1978 as a Republican candidate for mayor under the new form of city government.​

In 1978, Shreveport changed from the commission system to the mayor-council single-member district format with term limits. The newly elected mayor, Democrat William Thomas "Bill" Hanna, Jr., a former [[Ford]] Motor Company automobile dealer who defeated fellow Democrat Don Hathaway, hence exerted executive powers to a "legislative" council of seven members, where a divided 4-3 vote could often prove decisive. Hanna was elected as a "reform" candidate.​

In 1978, Shreveport changed from the commission system to the mayor-council single-member district format with term limits. The newly elected mayor, Democrat William Thomas "Bill" Hanna, Jr., a former [[Ford]] Motor Company automobile dealer who defeated fellow Democrat Don Hathaway, hence exerted executive powers to a "legislative" council of seven members, where a divided 4-3 vote could often prove decisive. Hanna was elected as a "reform" candidate.​

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==Legacy==

==Legacy==