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In September 1974, some five hundred persons marched on City Hall to protest high utility bills in Minden. The dissidents were responding to the hastily formed Committee for Lower Utilities, headed by Steve Fomby, later a member of the Webster Parish School Board. Some complained that meter readers were staying in their trucks and estimating the readings. A convenience store owner said that if her excessive billing were repeated, she would have to close her doors. Electricity in Minden is sold by the municipality, which uses profits to finance a portion of city government costs.<ref>"Electric Bill Rally Draws 500 to Civic Center," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 18, 1974, p. 1.</ref> Colten and the city council did not attend the rally against the utility bills. Colten was on city business in Baton Rouge at the time but said he would have cancelled the trip had he known about the rally.<ref>"Mayor and City Council Won't Attend Utility Bill Rally," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 17, 1974, p. 1.</ref> The utilities issue as well as the vacillation over full- and part-time status of the mayor are widely believed to have brought about the defeat of Colten. Several other city council members that year were also defeated, including Sanitation Commissioner Lonnie Lester "Red" Cupples (1914-1980) and Utilities Commissioner Fred T. "Tony" Elzen, Sr. (1922-2012)<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 17, 1974, p. 1.</ref>​

In September 1974, some five hundred persons marched on City Hall to protest high utility bills in Minden. The dissidents were responding to the hastily formed Committee for Lower Utilities, headed by Steve Fomby, later a member of the Webster Parish School Board. Some complained that meter readers were staying in their trucks and estimating the readings. A convenience store owner said that if her excessive billing were repeated, she would have to close her doors. Electricity in Minden is sold by the municipality, which uses profits to finance a portion of city government costs.<ref>"Electric Bill Rally Draws 500 to Civic Center," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 18, 1974, p. 1.</ref> Colten and the city council did not attend the rally against the utility bills. Colten was on city business in Baton Rouge at the time but said he would have cancelled the trip had he known about the rally.<ref>"Mayor and City Council Won't Attend Utility Bill Rally," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 17, 1974, p. 1.</ref> The utilities issue as well as the vacillation over full- and part-time status of the mayor are widely believed to have brought about the defeat of Colten. Several other city council members that year were also defeated, including Sanitation Commissioner Lonnie Lester "Red" Cupples (1914-1980) and Utilities Commissioner Fred T. "Tony" Elzen, Sr. (1922-2012)<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 17, 1974, p. 1.</ref>​

With one exception, the Republican ticket went down to defeat. Colten was unseated by the Democrat [[J.E. "Pat" Patterson]], 3,186 (62.5 percent) to 1,914 (37.5 percent), a businessman who had formerly owned Tidecraft Boats. Republican Felix R. Garrett (1922–1987), a university educator, won election as city utilities commissioner in 1974, having unseated his former [[Minden (Louisiana) High School]] classmate, the Democrat Fred Elzen.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 4, 1970.</ref> Four years later, Garrett took an open seat on the city council, when it converted to single-member districts.<ref>*''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 8, 1978, p. 1.</ref>​

With one exception, the Republican ticket went down to defeat. Colten was unseated by the Democrat [[J. E. "Pat" Patterson]], 3,186 votes (62.5 percent) to 1,914 (37.5 percent), a businessman who had formerly owned Tidecraft Boats. Republican Felix R. Garrett (1922–1987), a university educator, won election as city utilities commissioner in 1974, having unseated his former [[Minden (Louisiana) High School]] classmate, the Democrat Fred Elzen.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 4, 1970.</ref> Four years later, Garrett took an open seat on the city council, when it converted to single-member districts.<ref>*''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 8, 1978, p. 1.</ref>​

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Future Minden Mayor [[Bill Robertson]] was elected without opposition in the 1974 general election as the city's last sanitation commissioner. Robertson had narrowly defeated Patrick Cary Nation (1918–2005), a retired [[football]] coach and educator, in the Democratic runoff election held on September 26, 1974.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,', September 28, 1974, p. 1.</ref>​

Future Minden Mayor [[Bill Robertson]] was elected without opposition in the 1974 general election as the city's last sanitation commissioner. Robertson had narrowly defeated Patrick Cary Nation (1918–2005), a retired [[football]] coach and educator, in the Democratic runoff election held on September 26, 1974.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,', September 28, 1974, p. 1.</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>​

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==Department of Transportation and Development==

==Department of Transportation and Development==