Changes

Lanier supported the building of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Center and the Bolton Community Center. He worked to pave forty-five streets in the [[African-American]] community. Under Lanier, the first black firefighters and the first female bus drivers were hired.<ref name=lanier/>

Lanier supported the building of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Center and the Bolton Community Center. He worked to pave forty-five streets in the [[African-American]] community. Under Lanier, the first black firefighters and the first female bus drivers were hired.<ref name=lanier/>

In time, however, voters again soured on Lanier. Economic difficulties dominated local, state, and national news in 1982, and Alexandria was hard-hit by the [[petroleum]] slump. Faced with declining city revenues, utility rates crept upward again. Lanier imposed a hiring freeze on new city employees. He further ordered the 923 city employees to work only thirty-two hours per week, instead of the customary forty hours, with a one-fifth cut in gross pay. The proposed work reduction was, however, struck down as an abuse of mayoral authority by 9th Judicial District Court Judge [[William Culpepper]]. Lanier particularly angered sanitation workers when he declared that their pace of work was too slow and threatened to privatize the department unless their overall efficiency improved.​

In time, however, voters again soured on Lanier. Economic difficulties dominated local, state, and national news in 1982, and Alexandria was hard-hit by the [[petroleum]] slump. Faced with declining city revenues, utility rates crept upward again. Lanier imposed a hiring freeze on new city employees. He further ordered the 923 city employees to work only thirty-two hours per week, instead of the customary forty hours, with a one-fifth cut in gross pay. The proposed work reduction was, however, struck down as an abuse of mayoral authority by 9th Judicial District Court Judge [[William A. Culpepper]]. Lanier particularly angered sanitation workers when he declared that their pace of work was too slow and threatened to privatize the department unless their overall efficiency improved.​

In seeking reelection, Lanier urged constituents to be patient regarding utility rates because the city had signed an agreement with the Central Louisiana Electric Company of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] to purchase coal-fired power from the new Rodemacher facility near Boyce in northern Rapides Parish. Voters, however, rallied once more behind Snyder, who unseated Lanier, much to the consternation of the Alexandria business establishment who feared Snyder's often erratic ways.<ref name=lanier/>​

In seeking reelection, Lanier urged constituents to be patient regarding utility rates because the city had signed an agreement with the Central Louisiana Electric Company of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] to purchase coal-fired power from the new Rodemacher facility near Boyce in northern Rapides Parish. Voters, however, rallied once more behind Snyder, who unseated Lanier, much to the consternation of the Alexandria business establishment who feared Snyder's often erratic ways.<ref name=lanier/>​