Changes

==Tenure as mayor==

==Tenure as mayor==

In 1978, Batton ran for mayor, when the one-term incumbent [[J. E. "Pat" Patterson]] opted to run instead for a vacancy in the Louisiana House of Representatives. During the campaign, U. S. District Judge Benjamin Cornwell Dawkins, Jr., ordered the ciity commission government abolished and replaced by the mayor-council format, with five single-member council districts.<ref name=mpoe/> Batton won the post by an 88-vote margin in nonpartisan blanket primary held on September 16, 1978. He defeated his fellow Democrat, the late Orris R. Long, former president of the Minden [[Chamber of Commerce]].<ref>"O. R. Long is new chamber president", ''Minden Press-Herald'', December 12, 1977, p. 1.</ref> Batton polled 2,633 votes (50.8 percent) to Long’s 2,545 (49.2 percent).<ref>"Batton new Minden mayor; council runoff next", ''Minden Press-Herald'', September 18, 1978, p. 1.</ref>

In 1978, Batton ran for mayor, when the one-term incumbent [[J. E. "Pat" Patterson]] opted to run instead for a vacancy in the Louisiana House of Representatives. During the campaign, U. S. District Judge Benjamin Cornwell Dawkins, Jr., ordered the ciity commission government abolished and replaced by the mayor-council format, with five single-member council districts.<ref name=mpoe/> Batton won the post by an 88-vote margin in nonpartisan blanket primary held on September 16, 1978. He defeated his fellow Democrat, the late Orris R. Long, former president of the Minden [[Chamber of Commerce]].<ref>"O. R. Long is new chamber president", ''Minden Press-Herald'', December 12, 1977, p. 1.</ref> Batton polled 2,633 votes (50.8 percent) to Long's 2,545 (49.2 percent).<ref>"Batton new Minden mayor; council runoff next", ''Minden Press-Herald'', September 18, 1978, p. 1.</ref>

Judge Dawkins ordered the mayor-council government in response to a civil suit filed by the [[NAACP]], which sought the establishment of at least two black majority districts.<ref name=mpoe>Mike Poe, "Council to White: 'Draw up the Plan'", ''Minden Press-Herald'', August 8, 1978, p. 1.</ref> In the same primary in which Batton defeated Long, [[Robert T. Tobin]], a retired educator, became the first member of his race to sit on the city council; he defeated fellow [[African-American]] Democrat John D. "J. D." Hampton, Jr. (1935-2015), 519 votes (69.8 percent) to 225 (30.2 percent). On November 7, 1978, Peggy J. Staples (1933–2009) became the first woman ever elected to the city council. She defeated fellow Democrat Ben Kinel, 733 (67 percent) to 359 (33 percent). And Republican Felix Roby Garrett (1922-1987), formerly the public utilities commissioner and a professor at the University of Louisiana at Monroe who had vacillated over seeking another term on the council, became the first member of his party to fill a single-member district seat on the council.<ref>"Garrett, Staples, McCowen, Kirk all gain city council seats Tuesday", ''Minden Press-Herald'', November 8, 1978, p. 1.</ref><ref>Garrett was himself unseated in 1982 by the Democrat James Leonard "Jim" Starkey (1955-2012), a paramedic and former ambulance company owner who subsequently relocated to Walker in Livingston Parish near [[Baton Rouge]].</ref> Batton did not seek reelection in 1982, when the [[educator]], [[Noel Byars|Noel "Gene" Byars]], won the mayoral position.

Judge Dawkins ordered the mayor-council government in response to a civil suit filed by the [[NAACP]], which sought the establishment of at least two black majority districts.<ref name=mpoe>Mike Poe, "Council to White: 'Draw up the Plan'", ''Minden Press-Herald'', August 8, 1978, p. 1.</ref> In the same primary in which Batton defeated Long, [[Robert T. Tobin]], a retired educator, became the first member of his race to sit on the city council; he defeated fellow [[African-American]] Democrat John D. "J. D." Hampton, Jr. (1935-2015), 519 votes (69.8 percent) to 225 (30.2 percent). On November 7, 1978, Peggy J. Staples (1933–2009) became the first woman ever elected to the city council. She defeated fellow Democrat Ben Kinel, 733 (67 percent) to 359 (33 percent). And Republican Felix Roby Garrett (1922-1987), formerly the public utilities commissioner and a professor at the University of Louisiana at Monroe who had vacillated over seeking another term on the council, became the first member of his party to fill a single-member district seat on the council.<ref>"Garrett, Staples, McCowen, Kirk all gain city council seats Tuesday", ''Minden Press-Herald'', November 8, 1978, p. 1.</ref><ref>Garrett was himself unseated in 1982 by the Democrat James Leonard "Jim" Starkey (1955-2012), a paramedic and former ambulance company owner who subsequently relocated to Walker in Livingston Parish near [[Baton Rouge]].</ref> Batton did not seek reelection in 1982, when the [[educator]], [[Noel Byars|Noel "Gene" Byars]], won the mayoral position.

In the spring of 1981, Minden resident Joe Holemon launched an unsuccessful recall petition against Batton over the proposed construction of a low-income housing complex, Webster Manor Apartments, adjacent to the Pecan View neighborhood between Shirley Drive and the Lewisville Road. The project contractor was Jamar Adcock of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], a former member of the Louisiana State Senate who ran unsuccessfully in 1971 for ieutenant governor.<ref>"Petition filed today to recall Mayor Batton", ''Minden Press-Herald'', March 6, 1981, p. 1.</ref> Holeman moved against Batton on the premise that the mayor did not inform the city council on April 7, 1980 that it had thirty days thereafter to consider objections to the apartments and that his failure to have done so implicitly meant the approval of the project. Holeman also accused Batton of having needlessly delayed the 1980-1981 city budget by more than six months.<ref>"Holemon outlines reason for mayoral recall attempt", ''Minden Press-Herald'', March 17, 1981, p. 1.</ref>

In the spring of 1981, Minden resident Joe Holemon launched an unsuccessful recall petition against Batton over the proposed construction of a low-income housing complex, Webster Manor Apartments, adjacent to the Pecan View neighborhood between Shirley Drive and the Lewisville Road. The project contractor was Jamar Adcock of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], a former member of the Louisiana State Senate who ran unsuccessfully in 1971 for ieutenant governor.<ref>"Petition filed today to recall Mayor Batton", ''Minden Press-Herald'', March 6, 1981, p. 1.</ref> Holeman moved against Batton on the premise that the mayor did not inform the city council on April 7, 1980 that it had thirty days thereafter to consider objections to the apartments and that his failure to have done so implicitly meant the approval of the project. Holeman also accused Batton of having needlessly delayed the 1980-1981 city budget by more than six months.<ref>"Holemon outlines reason for mayoral recall attempt", ''Minden Press-Herald'', March 17, 1981, p. 1.</ref>

When the city council voted 3-2 to rescind Adcock's building permit, Batton vetoed the measure on grounds that the project was needed and that the city would otherwise be sued for breach of contract if it halted construction of the apartments.<ref>"Mayor says building permit stands", ''Minden Press-Herald'', December 10, 1981, p. 1.</ref> Batton's veto was tested in a ruling from state Attorney General[[ William J. Guste]], who declared that the mayor could veto a 3-2 or 4-1 council vote but not a unanimous one.<ref>"Batton's interpretation of veto power upheld", ''Minden Press-Herald'', February 26, 1982, p. 1.</ref>

When the city council voted 3–2 to rescind Adcock's building permit, Batton vetoed the measure on grounds that the project was needed and that the city would otherwise be sued for breach of contract if it halted construction of the apartments.<ref>"Mayor says building permit stands", ''Minden Press-Herald'', December 10, 1981, p. 1.</ref> Batton's veto was tested in a ruling from state Attorney General [[William J. Guste]], who declared that the mayor could veto a 3-2 or 4-1 council vote but not a unanimous one.<ref>"Batton's interpretation of veto power upheld", ''Minden Press-Herald'', February 26, 1982, p. 1.</ref>

   

   

Batton said that he had no actual knowledge of any objections to the apartments until the recall attempt was launched. He also voiced a lack of concern about the recall effort, which failed to garner the needed 2,468 signature to bring forth a special election.<ref>"Batton answers citizens' complaints", ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 18, 1981, p. 1.</ref><ref>"Mayor glad: Recall bid fizzles", ''Minden Press-Herald'', September 3, 1981, p. 1.</ref> After two lawsuits and months of delays,<ref>"Government and Politics", ''Minden Press-Herald'', December 31, 1982, p. 1.</ref> the council worked with Adcock to allow construction of the Webster Manor Apartments at two other sites, rather than in the Pecan View subdivision. Thirty-one apartments were built at the intersection of Bayou Avenue and Miller Street, and fifty-five others followed further west at the intersection of Bayou Avenue and Weston Street near the Town and Country Nursing Home. There were questions about acceptable sewerage facilities, but Batton said the needed services were adequate at both sites.<ref>"Shirley Drive project relocated to Cemetery Street and Bayou Avenue", ''Minden Press-Herald'', December 23, 1982, p. 1; though the newspaper refers to "Cemetery Street" for part of the project, the correct address is 300 Miller Street adjacent to Bayou Avenue.</ref>

Batton said that he had no actual knowledge of any objections to the apartments until the recall attempt was launched. He also voiced a lack of concern about the recall effort, which failed to garner the needed 2,468 signature to bring forth a special election.<ref>"Batton answers citizens' complaints", ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 18, 1981, p. 1.</ref><ref>"Mayor glad: Recall bid fizzles", ''Minden Press-Herald'', September 3, 1981, p. 1.</ref> After two lawsuits and months of delays,<ref>"Government and Politics", ''Minden Press-Herald'', December 31, 1982, p. 1.</ref> the council worked with Adcock to allow construction of the Webster Manor Apartments at two other sites, rather than in the Pecan View subdivision. Thirty-one apartments were built at the intersection of Bayou Avenue and Miller Street, and fifty-five others followed further west at the intersection of Bayou Avenue and Weston Street near the Town and Country Nursing Home. There were questions about acceptable sewerage facilities, but Batton said the needed services were adequate at both sites.<ref>"Shirley Drive project relocated to Cemetery Street and Bayou Avenue", ''Minden Press-Herald'', December 23, 1982, p. 1; though the newspaper refers to "Cemetery Street" for part of the project, the correct address is 300 Miller Street adjacent to Bayou Avenue.</ref>