Changes

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]] (1922-2020), a native [[Arkansas|Arkansan]] who later served for five years as the president of Springhill Bank and Trust Company and retired to [[Shreveport]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=roy-morris-fish&pid=196747856|title=Roy Morris Fish (1922-2020) obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=September 5, 2020}}</ref> 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, respectively, by fellow Democrats [[Parey Branton]] of Shongaloo and [[R. Harmon Drew, Sr.]], of Minden. 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, respectively, by fellow Democrats [[Parey Branton]] of Shongaloo and [[R. Harmon Drew, Sr.]], of Minden. 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/>