Changes

In the summer of 1973, Colten resigned as a full-time mayor and converted to part-time status so that he could accept the position of chief executive of the city's private hospital, Minden Medical Center, formerly known as Minden Sanitarium.<ref>"Colten Becomes Part-Time Mayor," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' year-end review edition, January 1, 1974, p. 1.</ref> The change meant that Colten's $12,000 annual salary was cut to $200 per month, the same as for city council members at the time. Had Colten resigned, the senior council member, [[Jack Batton]], whose older brother, [[J. D. Batton]] had been the parish sheriff from 1952 to 1964, would have become mayor for the remainder of Colten's term.<ref>"City Council Appoints Colten Part-Time Mayor," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' August 7, 1973, p. 1.</ref> Colten hence announced that he would not seek a third term in 1974. Then he changed his mind and ran again for the full-time position. This time, Republicans contested most municipal positions.  

In the summer of 1973, Colten resigned as a full-time mayor and converted to part-time status so that he could accept the position of chief executive of the city's private hospital, Minden Medical Center, formerly known as Minden Sanitarium.<ref>"Colten Becomes Part-Time Mayor," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' year-end review edition, January 1, 1974, p. 1.</ref> The change meant that Colten's $12,000 annual salary was cut to $200 per month, the same as for city council members at the time. Had Colten resigned, the senior council member, [[Jack Batton]], whose older brother, [[J. D. Batton]] had been the parish sheriff from 1952 to 1964, would have become mayor for the remainder of Colten's term.<ref>"City Council Appoints Colten Part-Time Mayor," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' August 7, 1973, p. 1.</ref> Colten hence announced that he would not seek a third term in 1974. Then he changed his mind and ran again for the full-time position. This time, Republicans contested most municipal positions.  

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 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>

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>

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 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==​

==Building the Louisiana GOP==​