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=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>   

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/>

In the Democratic primary held on November 4, 1967, McConnell finished in third place with 4,598 votes, behind Branton, also a former member of the Webster Parish School Board, who polled 6,127 votes. Two other candidates trailed McConnell and Branton in the primary, Minden attorney Henry Grady Hobbs (1923-2012), a native of nearby Sarepta,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=henry-hobbs&pid=162069317#fbLoggedOut|title=Henry Hobbs obituary|publisher=''Shreveport Times'', January 2, 2013|accessdate=January 3, 2013}}</ref> who had lost the seat by sixteen votes to Branton in 1960, and James William "Tinker" Volentine (1915-1982), a Minden small [[business]]man and a native of Bienville Parish.<ref>"J. W. Volentine Enters Race for Representative Position", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 19, 1967, p. 1.</ref>​

In the Democratic primary held on November 4, 1967, McConnell finished in third place with 4,598 votes, behind Branton, also a former member of the Webster Parish School Board, who polled 6,127 votes. Two other candidates trailed McConnell and Branton in the primary, Minden attorney Henry Grady Hobbs (1923-2012), a native of nearby Sarepta,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=henry-hobbs&pid=162069317#fbLoggedOut|title=Henry Hobbs obituary|publisher=''Shreveport Times'', January 2, 2013|accessdate=January 3, 2013}}</ref> who had lost the seat by sixteen votes to Branton in 1960, and James William "Tinker" Volentine (1915-1982), a Minden small [[business]]man and a native of Bienville Parish.<ref>"J. W. Volentine Enters Race for Representative Position", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 19, 1967, p. 1.</ref>​

The other seat at stake was won outright in the primary with 6,904 votes by [[John Sidney Garrett]] of Haynesville, who thereafter was tapped by [[Governor]] [[John J. McKeithen]] as the new Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', November 6, 1967, p. 1.</ref> In the Democratic runoff primary held on December 16, 1967, Garrett remained neutral, and Branton prevailed 7,619 votes (52.6 percent) to McConnell's 6,857 (47.4 percent).<ref>"Branch, Branton, Jack Montgomery Win", ''Minden Press-Herald'', December 18, 1967, p. 1.</ref>​

The other seat at stake was won outright in the primary with 6,904 votes by [[John Sidney Garrett]] of Haynesville, who thereafter was tapped by [[Governor]] [[John J. McKeithen]] as the new Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', November 6, 1967, p. 1.</ref> In the Democratic runoff primary held on December 16, 1967, Garrett remained neutral, and Branton prevailed 7,619 votes (52.6 percent) to McConnell's 6,857 (47.4 percent).<ref>"Branch, Branton, Jack Montgomery Win", ''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 18, 1967, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1971, McConnell sought the legislative seat which Branton vacated to run unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor to succeed Clarence C. "Taddy" Aycock of Franklin in St. Mary Parish, who ran instead for governor. This time, the senior Harmon Drew led in the primary balloting with 3,026 votes (25.2 percent). McConnell trailed in second place with 2,916 ballots (24.3 percent). In third place was the Minden educator Ralph Lamar Rentz, Sr. (1930-1995), who polled 2,739 votes (22.8 percent). Rentz proposed that Webster Parish establish a two-year educational program past the twelfth grade of high school to assist students seeking four-year college degrees, a reform implemented in Bossier Parish in 1967 which eventually became Bossier Parish Community College. And a community technical college opened years later in Minden. The businessman Houston Morris finished in fourth place in the legislative contest with 2,101 votes (17.5 percent). Two other candidates, including the late Minden businessman N. J. Cone, Jr., split the remaining 1,216 votes (10.1 percent).<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', November 9, 1971, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1971, McConnell sought the legislative seat which Branton vacated to run unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor to succeed Clarence C. "Taddy" Aycock of Franklin in St. Mary Parish, who ran instead for governor. This time, the senior Harmon Drew led in the primary balloting with 3,026 votes (25.2 percent). McConnell trailed in second place with 2,916 ballots (24.3 percent). In third place was the Minden educator Ralph Lamar Rentz, Sr. (1930-1995), who polled 2,739 votes (22.8 percent). Rentz proposed that Webster Parish establish a two-year educational program past the twelfth grade of high school to assist students seeking four-year college degrees, a reform implemented in Bossier Parish in 1967 which eventually became Bossier Parish Community College. And a community technical college opened years later in Minden. The businessman Houston Morris finished in fourth place in the legislative contest with 2,101 votes (17.5 percent). Two other candidates, including the late Minden businessman N. J. Cone, Jr., split the remaining 1,216 votes (10.1 percent).<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', November 9, 1971, p. 1.</ref>​