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==Running for the Public Service Commission, 1966==

==Running for the Public Service Commission, 1966==

John McKeithen appointed [[John S. Hunt]] of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] to the PSC seat that McKeithen vacated to become governor. Hunt's appointment ended after a year and a half. In the summer of 1966, Garrett challenged Hunt for Democratic renomination to a full six-year term on the commission. Hunt was the son of Stewart Smoker Hunt. I. and Lucille Long Hunt of Ruston, a sister of [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]], and [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]]. Both candidates had the same first name and the common middle initial, and Garrett's mother's maiden name was Hunt, but they were not related. Hunt led by plurality in the primary over a multi-candidate field that also included Garrett's legislative colleague, Parey Branton and former lawmaker Wellborn Jack of Shreveport. After the primary, Garrett claimed that Hunt had received 42,000 [[African-American]] votes, a margin of 93.1 percent in nine selected precincts across the district.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 16, 1966, p. 4.</ref> In the Democratic runoff election, Hunt defeated Garrett 91,971 (52.5 percent) to 83,075 (47.5) percent. The two evenly split the then twenty-eight parishes in the district. Garrett had garnered the support of three of four primary rivals eliminated in the first round of voting. He carried all of the parishes bordering Arkansas except Caddo in the northwest and East Carroll in the northeast.

John McKeithen appointed [[John S. Hunt]] of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] to the PSC seat that McKeithen vacated to become governor. Hunt's appointment ended after a year and a half. In the summer of 1966, Garrett challenged Hunt for Democratic renomination to a full six-year term on the commission. Hunt was the son of Stewart Smoker Hunt. I. and Lucille Long Hunt of Ruston, a sister of [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]], and [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]]. Both candidates had the same first name and the common middle initial, and Garrett's mother's maiden name was Hunt, but they were not related. Hunt led by plurality in the primary over a multi-candidate field that also included Garrett's legislative colleague, [[Parey Branton]] and former lawmaker [[Wellborn]] Jack of Shreveport. After the primary, Garrett claimed that Hunt had received 42,000 [[African-American]] votes, a margin of 93.1 percent in nine selected precincts across the district.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 16, 1966, p. 4.</ref> In the Democratic runoff election, Hunt defeated Garrett 91,971 (52.5 percent) to 83,075 (47.5) percent. The two evenly split the then twenty-eight parishes in the district. Garrett had garnered the support of three of four primary rivals eliminated in the first round of voting. He carried all of the parishes bordering Arkansas except Caddo in the northwest and East Carroll in the northeast.

Garrett tried to depict Hunt, who had supported [[Barry Goldwater]] in the 1964 presidential election, as a captive of the "black bloc vote," but he failed to convince a majority of voters accordingly. Records did, however, reveal that Hunt's 9,896-vote margin was dependent on African-American voters newly enfranchised under the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]].

Garrett tried to depict Hunt, who had supported [[Barry Goldwater]] in the 1964 presidential election, as a captive of the "black bloc vote," but he failed to convince a majority of voters accordingly. Records did, however, reveal that Hunt's 9,896-vote margin was dependent on African-American voters newly enfranchised under the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]].

Hunt served a total of eight years on the commission. He was unseated in 1972 by [[Edward Kennon]], a Minden/Shreveport businessman and a nephew of former Governor [[Robert F. Kennon]].

Hunt served a total of eight years on the commission. He was unseated in 1972 by [[Edward Kennon]], a Minden/Shreveport businessman and a nephew of former Governor [[Robert F. Kennon]].