Changes

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>

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>​

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 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==

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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>​