Changes

In 1978, Batton ran for mayor, when the one-term incumbent [[J. E. "Pat" Patterson]] opted to run instead for a vacancy in the Louisiana House of Representatives. During the campaign, U. S. District Judge Benjamin Cornwell Dawkins, Jr., ordered the ciity commission government abolished and replaced by the mayor-council format, with five single-member council districts.<ref name=mpoe/> Batton won the post by an 88-vote margin in nonpartisan blanket primary held on September 16, 1978. He defeated his fellow Democrat, the late Orris R. Long, former president of the Minden [[Chamber of Commerce]].<ref>"O. R. Long is new chamber president", ''Minden Press-Herald'', December 12, 1977, p. 1.</ref> Batton polled 2,633 votes (50.8 percent) to Long’s 2,545 (49.2 percent).<ref>"Batton new Minden mayor; council runoff next", ''Minden Press-Herald'', September 18, 1978, p. 1.</ref>

In 1978, Batton ran for mayor, when the one-term incumbent [[J. E. "Pat" Patterson]] opted to run instead for a vacancy in the Louisiana House of Representatives. During the campaign, U. S. District Judge Benjamin Cornwell Dawkins, Jr., ordered the ciity commission government abolished and replaced by the mayor-council format, with five single-member council districts.<ref name=mpoe/> Batton won the post by an 88-vote margin in nonpartisan blanket primary held on September 16, 1978. He defeated his fellow Democrat, the late Orris R. Long, former president of the Minden [[Chamber of Commerce]].<ref>"O. R. Long is new chamber president", ''Minden Press-Herald'', December 12, 1977, p. 1.</ref> Batton polled 2,633 votes (50.8 percent) to Long’s 2,545 (49.2 percent).<ref>"Batton new Minden mayor; council runoff next", ''Minden Press-Herald'', September 18, 1978, p. 1.</ref>

Judge Dawkins ordered the mayor-council government in response to a civil suit filed by the [[NAACP]], which sought the establishment of at least two black majority districts.<ref name=mpoe>Mike Poe, "Council to White: 'Draw up the Plan'", ''Minden Press-Herald'', August 8, 1978, p. 1.</ref> In the same primary in which Batton defeated Long, [[Robert T. Tobin]], a retired educator, became the first member of his race to sit on the city council; he defeated fellow [[African-American]] Democrat John D. "J. D." Hampton, Jr. (1935-2015), 519 votes (69.8 percent) to 225 (30.2 percent). On November 7, 1978, Peggy J. Staples (1933–2009) became the first woman ever elected to the city council. She defeated fellow Democrat Ben Kinel, 733 (67 percent) to 359 (33 percent). And Republican Felix Roby Garrett (1922-1987), formerly the public utilities commissioner and a professor at the University of Louisiana at Monroe who had vacillated over seeking another term on the council, became the first member of his party to fill a single-member district seat on the council.<ref>"Garrett, Staples, McCowen, Kirk all gain city council seats Tuesday", ''Minden Press-Herald'', November 8, 1978, p. 1.</ref><ref>Garrett was himself unseated in 1982 by the Democrat James Leonard "Jim" Starkey (1955-2012), a paramedic and former ambulance company owner who subsequently relocated to Walker in Livingston Parish near [[Baton Rouge]].</ref> Batton did not seek reelection in 1982, when the [[educator]], [[Gene Byars|Noel "Gene" Byars]], won the mayoral position.

Judge Dawkins ordered the mayor-council government in response to a civil suit filed by the [[NAACP]], which sought the establishment of at least two black majority districts.<ref name=mpoe>Mike Poe, "Council to White: 'Draw up the Plan'", ''Minden Press-Herald'', August 8, 1978, p. 1.</ref> In the same primary in which Batton defeated Long, [[Robert T. Tobin]], a retired educator, became the first member of his race to sit on the city council; he defeated fellow [[African-American]] Democrat John D. "J. D." Hampton, Jr. (1935-2015), 519 votes (69.8 percent) to 225 (30.2 percent). On November 7, 1978, Peggy J. Staples (1933–2009) became the first woman ever elected to the city council. She defeated fellow Democrat Ben Kinel, 733 (67 percent) to 359 (33 percent). And Republican Felix Roby Garrett (1922-1987), formerly the public utilities commissioner and a professor at the University of Louisiana at Monroe who had vacillated over seeking another term on the council, became the first member of his party to fill a single-member district seat on the council.<ref>"Garrett, Staples, McCowen, Kirk all gain city council seats Tuesday", ''Minden Press-Herald'', November 8, 1978, p. 1.</ref><ref>Garrett was himself unseated in 1982 by the Democrat James Leonard "Jim" Starkey (1955-2012), a paramedic and former ambulance company owner who subsequently relocated to Walker in Livingston Parish near [[Baton Rouge]].</ref> Batton did not seek reelection in 1982, when the [[educator]], [[Noel Byars|Noel "Gene" Byars]], won the mayoral position.

As mayor, Batton advocated continued municipal ownership of the light and power plant, first procured by the city during the administration of Mayor Frank Norman, who served from 1958 to 1966. Batton worked to expand low-income housing and continued street paving.

As mayor, Batton advocated continued municipal ownership of the light and power plant, first procured by the city during the administration of Mayor Frank Norman, who served from 1958 to 1966. Batton worked to expand low-income housing and continued street paving.