Changes

The city is governed by a mayor-council form of government established in a new charter drafted in the middle 1970s. Coincidentally, Randolph's first wife, Sanna Randolph, was a member of the city charter commission that created the job description that he exercised for twenty years.​ Alexandria's population shifted from a barely white city to a 55 percent black majority during Randolph's tenure and 57 percent in the 2010 census. Randolph worked with African-American community leaders, and many supported him in his mayoral campaigns. Randolph also had a close working relationship for his last five years as mayor with [[Clarence Fields]], the still-serving  black mayor of Pineville, which in the 2010 census was 70 percent white.

The city is governed by a mayor-council form of government established in a new charter drafted in the middle 1970s. Coincidentally, Randolph's first wife, Sanna Randolph, was a member of the city charter commission that created the job description that he exercised for twenty years.​ Alexandria's population shifted from a barely white city to a 55 percent black majority during Randolph's tenure and 57 percent in the 2010 census. Randolph worked with African-American community leaders, and many supported him in his mayoral campaigns. Randolph also had a close working relationship for his last five years as mayor with [[Clarence Fields]], the still-serving  black mayor of Pineville, which in the 2010 census was 70 percent white.

On April 5, 1997, Mayor Randolph ran unsuccessfully for a vacancy on the Louisiana Court of Appeal for the Third Circuit,  based in [[Lake Charles]]. He polled 9,974 votes (28.5 percent) and finished second to fellow Democrat [[Elizabeth Pickett]], the daughter of a former state representative from  Many in Sabine Parish,  who received 15,322 votes (43.7 percent). A Republican, John Gutierrez McLure (born April 1946) of Woodworth,  received 9,738 (28.8 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, April 5, 1997.</ref>​Randolph declined to pursue a runoff election against Pickett, who still holds the position for a term which expires in 2022.​

On April 5, 1997, Mayor Randolph ran unsuccessfully for a vacancy on the Louisiana Court of Appeal for the Third Circuit,  based in [[Lake Charles]]. He polled 9,974 votes (28.5 percent) and finished second to fellow Democrat [[Elizabeth Pickett]], the daughter of a former state representative from  Many in Sabine Parish,  who received 15,322 votes (43.7 percent). A Republican, John Gutierrez McLure (born April 1946) of Woodworth,  received 9,738 (28.8 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, April 5, 1997.</ref>​Randolph declined to pursue a runoff election against Pickett, who still holds the position for a term which expires in 2022.

 

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In 1992, just five years into his mayoral service, Randolph was again attracted by the lure of Congress. When the 8th congressional district was disbanded, Alexandria was temporarily placed in a new 6th District, which included East Baton Rouge Parish. Randolph ran as the lone Democrat for the seat. Two Republican congressmen ran against each other, Richard Baker and Clyde Cecil Holloway (1943-2016) of Randolph's own Rapides Parish. Holloway led in the jungle primary, with 52,012 (37 percent). Baker was second with 46,990 votes (33 percent). Randolph finished a close third with 42,819 ballots (30 percent).​<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns,  October 3, 1992.</ref>

In 1992, just five years into his mayoral service, Randolph was again attracted by the lure of Congress. When the 8th congressional district was disbanded, Alexandria was temporarily placed in a new 6th District, which included East Baton Rouge Parish. Randolph ran as the lone Democrat for the seat. Two Republican congressmen ran against each other, Richard Baker and Clyde Cecil Holloway (1943-2016) of Randolph's own Rapides Parish. Holloway led in the jungle primary, with 52,012 (37 percent). Baker was second with 46,990 votes (33 percent). Randolph finished a close third with 42,819 ballots (30 percent).​<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns,  October 3, 1992.</ref>

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