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Colten was the Webster Parish campaign manager in the general election held on March 3, 1964 for Republican [[Governor|gubernatorial]] nominee [[Charlton Lyons]], a native of Vermilion Parish in south Louisiana who became an [[oil]]man in [[Shreveport]].<ref>"Gubernatorial HQ's Open for Campaign," ''Minden Press,'' February 3, 1964, p. 1.</ref> Lyons lost the parish to his successful Democratic opponent [[John J. McKeithen]].​

Colten was the Webster Parish campaign manager in the general election held on March 3, 1964 for Republican [[Governor|gubernatorial]] nominee [[Charlton Lyons]], a native of Vermilion Parish in south Louisiana who became an [[oil]]man in [[Shreveport]].<ref>"Gubernatorial HQ's Open for Campaign," ''Minden Press,'' February 3, 1964, p. 1.</ref> Lyons lost the parish to his successful Democratic opponent [[John J. McKeithen]].​

The 1964 presidential election was the last before passage of the [[Voting Rights Act]] of 1965, which empowered large numbers of [[African-American]] voters, who had not previously been a deciding force in Minden politics. Though Colten ran for mayor in 1966 as a racial moderate, two years earlier he had spoken before a Minden civic group in opposition to the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]], which he called "a threat to the economy."<ref>"Civil Rights Bill Cited as Threat to Economy", ''Minden Herald,'' April 30, 1964, p. 1.</ref> He cited the case of Motorola, which had to discontinue aptitude tests in employee selection because African Americans had scored less well on such examinations than had whites. "This is a socialistic trend against private enterprise," Colten said.<ref>''Minden Herald,'' April 30, 1964.</ref> With the passage of [[civil rights]] laws and court rulings outlawing [[segregation]], blacks grew in influence in the community. Minden was 52 percent black, according to the 2010 census.​

The 1964 presidential election was the last before passage of the [[Voting Rights Act]] of 1965, which empowered large numbers of [[African-American]] voters, who had not previously been a deciding force in Minden politics. Though Colten ran for mayor in 1966 as a racial moderate, two years earlier he had spoken before a Minden civic group in opposition to the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]], which he called "a threat to the economy."<ref>"Civil Rights Bill Cited as Threat to Economy," ''Minden Herald,'' April 30, 1964, p. 1.</ref> He cited the case of Motorola, which had to discontinue aptitude tests in employee selection because African Americans had scored less well on such examinations than had whites. "This is a socialistic trend against private enterprise," Colten said.<ref>''Minden Herald,'' April 30, 1964.</ref> With the passage of [[civil rights]] laws and court rulings outlawing [[segregation]], blacks grew in influence in the community. Minden was 52 percent black, according to the 2010 census.​

Colten ran a "reform" campaign, claiming that he wanted to get Minden "moving," implying that the two-term incumbent, [[Frank T. Norman]], who had also backed Goldwater for president, had been too passive during his two terms as mayor from 1958 to 1966 and as public safety commissioner from 1952 to 1958, had been too passive. Colten never used the "R" label. ''The Press-Herald'' on the day after the general election referred to Colten merely as "the challenger," with no mention of party affiliation. Colten received 2,044 votes (55.8 percent) to Norman's 1,622 (44.2 percent).<ref>"Tom Colten Elected Mayor of Minden: Challenger Takes Seven of Ten City Precincts to Win in General Election," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 9, 1966, p. 1.</ref>  

Colten ran a "reform" campaign, claiming that he wanted to get Minden "moving," implying that the two-term incumbent, [[Frank T. Norman]], who had also backed Goldwater for president, had been too passive during his two terms as mayor from 1958 to 1966 and as public safety commissioner from 1952 to 1958, had been too passive. Colten never used the "R" label. ''The Press-Herald'' on the day after the general election referred to Colten merely as "the challenger," with no mention of party affiliation. Colten received 2,044 votes (55.8 percent) to Norman's 1,622 (44.2 percent).<ref>"Tom Colten Elected Mayor of Minden: Challenger Takes Seven of Ten City Precincts to Win in General Election," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 9, 1966, p. 1.</ref>