Changes

==Political career==

==Political career==

In the April 1954 municipal primary, McConnell garnered 53 percent of the vote over two primary rivals, Jesse C. Anderson and Robert J. Hughes.<ref>"Springhill Elects New Mayor and Two Aldermen", ''Minden Press'', April 8, 1954, p. 1.</ref> He was succeeded after a single term by the businessman [[Jesse L. Boucher]]. From 1960 to 1969, McConnell was an elected member of the Webster Parish School Board.<ref name=mcconnell/> He resigned from the board two years into his second term<ref>"Charles E. McConnell Ward 2 School Board Member to Resign", ''Minden Press-Herald'', April 27, 1969, p. 1.</ref> because in his words he had "too many irons in the fire to continue work on the board." A second board member, Alfred Ellsworth "Alf" Day (1898-1972) of Minden, a former schoolteacher, soon followed McConnell's lead in resignation.<ref>"Webster Board Member A. E. Day Resigns Post," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' May 6, 1969, p. 1.</ref>

In the April 1954 municipal primary, McConnell garnered 53 percent of the vote over two primary rivals, Jesse C. Anderson and Robert J. Hughes.<ref>"Springhill Elects New Mayor and Two Aldermen", ''Minden Press'', April 8, 1954, p. 1.</ref> He was succeeded after a single term by the businessman [[Jesse L. Boucher]]. From 1960 to 1969, McConnell was an elected member of the Webster Parish School Board.<ref name=mcconnell/> He resigned from the board two years into his second term<ref>"Charles E. McConnell Ward 2 School Board Member to Resign," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' April 27, 1969, p. 1.</ref> because in his words he had "too many irons in the fire to continue work on the board." A second board member, Alfred Ellsworth "Alf" Day (1898-1972) of Minden, a former schoolteacher, soon followed McConnell's lead in resignation.<ref>"Webster Board Member A. E. Day Resigns Post," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' May 6, 1969, p. 1.</ref>

McConnell was engaged in a law practice in Springhill with Roy Morris Fish. Johnnie Souter McMahen (1930-2012), the wife of subsequent Sheriff [[Royce L. McMahen]], was their legal clerk. From 1974 to 1992, Mrs. McMahen was the Springhill city clerk.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=McMahen&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1168&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=94968818&df=all&|title=Johnnie Souter McMahen|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=August 7, 2012|accessdate=September 16, 2014}}</ref> He was also in partnership with John Bernard Slattery, Jr. (1955-2020), in the firm McConnell & Slattery. Prior to becoming the Springhill city judge, Slattery was the city attorney for Springhill and the nearby communities of Cullen, Sarepta, Shongaloo, and Cotton Valley.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://press-herald.com/hon-john-bernard-slattery-jr/|title=Hon. John Bernard Slattery, Jr.|author=Will Phillips|publisher=''[[Minden Press-Herald]]''|date=July 17, 2020|accessdate=July 21, 2020}}</ref>   

McConnell was engaged in a law practice in Springhill with Roy Morris Fish. Johnnie Souter McMahen (1930-2012), the wife of subsequent Sheriff [[Royce L. McMahen]], was their legal clerk. From 1974 to 1992, Mrs. McMahen was the Springhill city clerk.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=McMahen&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1168&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=94968818&df=all&|title=Johnnie Souter McMahen|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=August 7, 2012|accessdate=July 21, 2020}}</ref> He was also in partnership with John Bernard Slattery, Jr. (1955-2020), in the firm McConnell & Slattery. Prior to becoming the Springhill city judge, Slattery was the city attorney for Springhill and the nearby communities of Cullen, Sarepta, Shongaloo, and Cotton Valley.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://press-herald.com/hon-john-bernard-slattery-jr/|title=Hon. John Bernard Slattery, Jr.|author=Will Phillips|publisher=''[[Minden Press-Herald]]''|date=July 17, 2020|accessdate=July 21, 2020}}</ref>   

In 1967 and 1971, McConnell waged losing campaigns for what is now the District 10 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives, having been defeated by fellow Democrats Parey Pershing Branton, Sr. (1918-2011) of Shongaloo and Richard Harmon Drew, Sr. (1917-1995) of Minden, respectively. In the first campaign, McConnell vowed if elected to "represent all equally" and to seek the "advancement of constituents without compromising ideals and principles."<ref name=mcconnell/>

In 1967 and 1971, McConnell waged losing campaigns for what is now the District 10 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives, having been defeated by fellow Democrats Parey Pershing Branton, Sr. (1918-2011) of Shongaloo and Richard Harmon Drew, Sr. (1917-1995) of Minden, respectively. In the first campaign, McConnell vowed if elected to "represent all equally" and to seek the "advancement of constituents without compromising ideals and principles."<ref name=mcconnell/>