Block, Upload, Automoderated users, edit, move, protect, rollback
57,799
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 95:
Line 95: − ==Building the Louisiana GOP==+ − + − + − + − + − + − + − +
→Second term as mayor
In 1989, another Republican, [[Paul A. Brown]], formerly of [[New Orleans]], was elected mayor but served only a year. He was seriously injured in an accident on the Minden High School [[football]] field, was unable to serve as mayor, and died six years later. Brown was succeeded in 1990 by Bill Robertson, an Arkansas native who won a sixth and final consecutive term in the 2010 general election. Colten and Brown had three things in common: they were Republicans, neither was a Minden native, and each had been executive director of the chamber of commerce before he ran for mayor.
In 1989, another Republican, [[Paul A. Brown]], formerly of [[New Orleans]], was elected mayor but served only a year. He was seriously injured in an accident on the Minden High School [[football]] field, was unable to serve as mayor, and died six years later. Brown was succeeded in 1990 by Bill Robertson, an Arkansas native who won a sixth and final consecutive term in the 2010 general election. Colten and Brown had three things in common: they were Republicans, neither was a Minden native, and each had been executive director of the chamber of commerce before he ran for mayor.
==Building the Louisiana GOP==
As Colten left the office of mayor, the city council presented him with a plaque, "Minden's Best Damn Yankee Republican Mayor."<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 2, 1975, p. 1.</ref> Colten was not the first Republican mayor in Louisiana. That designation went to [[Jack Breaux]], who was elected mayor of Zachary in East Baton Rouge Parish in the spring of 1966.<ref>''The Baton Rouge Advocate]],'' January 27, 1980.</ref>
As Colten left the office of mayor, the city council presented him with a plaque, "Minden's Best Damn Yankee Republican Mayor."<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 2, 1975, p. 1.</ref> Colten was not the first Republican mayor in Louisiana. That designation went to [[Jack Breaux]], who was elected mayor of Zachary in East Baton Rouge Parish in the spring of 1966.<ref>''The Baton Rouge Advocate]],'' January 27, 1980.</ref>
Though his Minden newspapers had endorsed Charlton Lyons for governor in 1964,<ref>''Minden Press,'' January 11, 1964.</ref> He did little to encourage other Republicans to run for office and once opposed a Republican candidate for sheriff by convincing the Webster Parish Republican Executive Committee to set the filing fee so high that it would discourage the candidate from running — it did not, however, in that case. Colten hence favored offering only serious candidates, not obscure placeholders to fill a ballot.
Though his Minden newspapers had endorsed Charlton Lyons for governor in 1964,<ref>''Minden Press,'' January 11, 1964.</ref> He did little to encourage other Republicans to run for office and once opposed a Republican candidate for sheriff by convincing the Webster Parish Republican Executive Committee to set the filing fee so high that it would discourage the candidate from running — it did not, however, in that case. Colten hence favored offering only serious candidates, not obscure placeholders to fill a ballot.
Colten also sometimes got involved in Democratic primary fights — particularly the "battle of the Montgomerys" for one of the thirty-nine seats in the Louisiana State Senate in 1967 and 1971. He favored (though he could not vote in the primary at the time) [[Jack Montgomery|John W. "Jack" Montgomery]], a Springhill native and Minden lawyer who was challenging two-term State Senator [[Harold Montgomery]] of Doyline in Webster Parish. Jack Montgomery won in 1967, but Harold Montgomery returned to victory in 1971. The Montgomerys were not related, had different political philosophies but maintained cordiality toward each other.
Colten also sometimes got involved in Democratic primary fights — particularly the "battle of the Montgomerys" for one of the thirty-nine seats in the Louisiana State Senate in 1967 and 1971. He favored (though he could not vote in the primary at the time) [[Jack Montgomery|John W. "Jack" Montgomery]], a Springhill native and Minden lawyer who was challenging two-term State Senator [[Harold Montgomery]] of Doyline in Webster Parish. Jack Montgomery won in 1967, but Harold Montgomery returned to victory in 1971. The Montgomerys were not related, had different political philosophies but maintained cordiality toward each other.
Harold Montgomery told a reporter in 1975 that he could not understand why Colten, a Republican, had undercut him, when Harold Montgomery, unlike Jack Montgomery, had frequently supported Republican candidates, including Charlton Lyons, who opposed [[John J. McKeithen]] in the 1964 gubernatorial election and then Senator Goldwater for the presidency later that same year. Harold Montgomery was one of the state senators who had sometimes quarreled with McKeithen. McKeithen supported Jack Montgomery.
Harold Montgomery told a reporter in 1975 that he could not understand why Colten, a Republican, had undercut him, when Harold Montgomery, unlike Jack Montgomery, had frequently supported Republican candidates, including Charlton Lyons, who opposed [[John J. McKeithen]] in the 1964 gubernatorial election and then Senator Goldwater for the presidency later that same year. Harold Montgomery was one of the state senators who had sometimes quarreled with McKeithen. McKeithen supported Jack Montgomery.
In 1975, out of the office of mayor and back in his previous role as the executive director of the Minden Chamber of Commerce,<ref name=backtochamber>"Colten is selected new chamber director," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' February 25, 1975, p. 1</ref> Colten was named to a two-year term to the advisory council of the Small Business Administration by administrator Thomas S. Kleppe, a former U. S. Representative from [[North Dakota]] and later the [[United States Secretary of Agriculture]].<ref>"Colten gets SBA term," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 28, 1975, p. 3A.</ref>
In 1975, out of the office of mayor and back in his previous role as the executive director of the Minden Chamber of Commerce,<ref name=backtochamber>"Colten is selected new chamber director," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' February 25, 1975, p. 1</ref> Colten was named to a two-year term to the advisory council of the Small Business Administration by administrator Thomas S. Kleppe, a former U. S. Representative from [[North Dakota]] and later the [[United States Secretary of Agriculture]].<ref>"Colten gets SBA term," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 28, 1975, p. 3A.</ref>
In 1978, Colten accepted the position in Baton Rouge of general manager of the newly formed trade association, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, under president [[Ed Steimel]], which had lobbied for the state [[right-to-work]] law in 1976.<ref>"Colten slated," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 31, 1978, p. 1.</ref> On November 1, 1985, Colten was appointed by the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee]], of which he had previously been an elected member, to the paid executive director position. The party chairman at the time was [[George Despot]] of Shreveport.<ref>"Colten Assumes GOP Post," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 21, 1985.</ref>
In 1978, Colten accepted the position in Baton Rouge of general manager of the newly formed trade association, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, under president [[Ed Steimel]], which had lobbied for the state [[right-to-work]] law in 1976.<ref>"Colten slated," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' January 31, 1978, p. 1.</ref> On November 1, 1985, Colten was appointed by the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee]], of which he had previously been an elected member, to the paid executive director position. The party chairman at the time was [[George Despot]] of Shreveport.<ref>"Colten Assumes GOP Post," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 21, 1985.</ref>
==Department of Transportation and Development==
==Department of Transportation and Development==
In 1980, Governor Treen appointed Colten as the assistant secretary to Paul Jude Hardy, who had been newly named as the secretary for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Hardy was a former Louisiana secretary of state]] who had been an unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate in 1979.<ref>A Democrat-turned-Republican, Hardy was later elected lieutenant governor in 1987 — the first Republican elected to that position since [[Reconstruction]].</ref>
In 1980, Governor Treen appointed Colten as the assistant secretary to Paul Jude Hardy, who had been newly named as the secretary for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Hardy was a former Louisiana secretary of state]] who had been an unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate in 1979.<ref>A Democrat-turned-Republican, Hardy was later elected lieutenant governor in 1987 — the first Republican elected to that position since [[Reconstruction]].</ref>
When Hardy left the top transportation post, Treen elevated Colten to secretary of the department. His services were then retained by Governor Edwin Edwards. He also served a second stint as assistant secretary of DOTD under Governor [[Buddy Roemer]], with Neil Lassion Wagoner (1936-2018) of Baton Rouge as the secretary. Colten in effect was came the point man on state highways, and elected officials depended on his expertise.<ref>Joey White, "Colten: Roemer's future depends on Oct. 7 vote?," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 6, 1989, p. 1.</ref>
When Hardy left the top transportation post, Treen elevated Colten to secretary of the department. His services were then retained by Governor Edwin Edwards. He also served a second stint as assistant secretary of DOTD under Governor [[Buddy Roemer]], with Neil Lassion Wagoner (1936-2018) of Baton Rouge as the secretary. Colten in effect was came the point man on state highways, and elected officials depended on his expertise.<ref>Joey White, "Colten: Roemer's future depends on Oct. 7 vote?," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 6, 1989, p. 1.</ref>
Colten was an elected delegate to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention of 1973. He was a former chairman of the Northwest Louisiana Clearinghouse Review Board. He was chairman of the board of directors of the Friends of Louisiana Public Broadcasting. He was a member of the Governor's Property Tax Study Committee, the Joint House-Senate Study Committee on Industrial Inducement, the East Baton Rouge Industrial Development Board, the State Deferred Compensation Commission,<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 24, 1982, p. 1.</ref> the Louisiana Tourism Commission, and the Southern Rapid Rail Transit Commission.
Colten was an elected delegate to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention of 1973. He was a former chairman of the Northwest Louisiana Clearinghouse Review Board. He was chairman of the board of directors of the Friends of Louisiana Public Broadcasting. He was a member of the Governor's Property Tax Study Committee, the Joint House-Senate Study Committee on Industrial Inducement, the East Baton Rouge Industrial Development Board, the State Deferred Compensation Commission,<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 24, 1982, p. 1.</ref> the Louisiana Tourism Commission, and the Southern Rapid Rail Transit Commission.