Changes

In 1958, Fant decided to seek a return to the mayoral position. By a wide margin in the Democratic [[primary]], he unseated Gardner, who was closely identified with more "progressive" politics. Fant pledged to lead Shreveport to greater heights in the 1960s than had already been accomplished. Fant won again in 1962, and he was unopposed for his fifth, and as it turned out final, term in 1966.​

In 1958, Fant decided to seek a return to the mayoral position. By a wide margin in the Democratic [[primary]], he unseated Gardner, who was closely identified with more "progressive" politics. Fant pledged to lead Shreveport to greater heights in the 1960s than had already been accomplished. Fant won again in 1962, and he was unopposed for his fifth, and as it turned out final, term in 1966.​

[[Republican Party|Republicans]] began to gain strength in Shreveport in the middle 1960s, but no Republican challenged Fant in any of his elections. A group of Republicans tried to convince then GOP State Chairman [[Charlton Lyons]], to challenge Fant in 1966. Lyons politely declined to wage a mayoral campaign, after having lost races for the [[United States House of Representatives]] in 1961 to [[Joe Waggonner]] and for governor in 1964 to [[John J. McKeithen]]. Fant did not seek a sixth term in 1970, in part because of health considerations. He was succeeded by the outgoing public utilities commissioner [[Calhoun Allen]]. George W. D'Artois continued as public safety commissioner, a post to which he was elected in 1962, in the new Allen administration; Donald Edgar Hathaway, later the Caddo Parish sheriff, was elected public works commissioner in 1970.​

[[Republican Party|Republicans]] began to gain strength in Shreveport in the middle 1960s, but no Republican challenged Fant in any of his elections. A group of Republicans tried to convince then GOP State Chairman [[Charlton Lyons]], to challenge Fant in 1966. Lyons politely declined to wage a mayoral campaign, after having lost races for the [[United States House of Representatives]] in 1961 to [[Joe Waggonner]] and for governor in 1964 to [[John J. McKeithen]]. Fant did not seek a sixth term in 1970, in part because of health considerations. He was succeeded by the outgoing public utilities commissioner [[Calhoun Allen]]. George W. D'Artois continued as public safety commissioner, a post to which he was elected in 1962, in the new Allen administration; [[Donald E. Hathaway]], later the Caddo Parish sheriff from 1980 to 2000, was elected public works commissioner in 1970.​

The long-term public works commissioner, [[H. Lane Mitchell]], whose service began in 1934 and paralleled most of Fant's tenure,  had resigned in December 1968, amid what developed as an embarrassing theft scandal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leagle.com/decision/19711060246So2d814_1915.xml/STATE%20v.%20MITCHELL|title=''State v. Mitchell''|date=May 3, 1971|publisher=leagle.com|accessdate=June 14, 2014}}</ref>​

The long-term public works commissioner, [[H. Lane Mitchell]], whose service began in 1934 and paralleled most of Fant's tenure,  had resigned in December 1968, amid what developed as an embarrassing theft scandal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leagle.com/decision/19711060246So2d814_1915.xml/STATE%20v.%20MITCHELL|title=''State v. Mitchell''|date=May 3, 1971|publisher=leagle.com|accessdate=June 14, 2014}}</ref>​