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Six candidates, four Republicans and two Democrats, contested the October 2000 primary for Mayor-President. Democrat Holden led with 34,780 votes (31.2 percent), and Simpson trailed with 27,928 (25.1 percent). Republican Rolfe H. McCollister finished third with 21,850 votes (19.6 percent). Three other candidates held the remaining 24 percent. One of those unsuccessful candidates was Republican Fred Columbus Dent, Jr. (1937–2010), a former [[United States Army]] Green Beret and the son of [[Lucille May Grace]], a Democrat who served for multiple terms as the Louisiana Register of State Lands, no longer an elected statewide position. Fred Dent, Jr., drew 6 percent of the vote.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 7, 2000.</ref> Simpson then defeated Holden in the November 7 general election with 93,952 (56.9 percent) to 71,087 (43.1 percent). Simpson outpolled Republican [[U.S. President|presidential]] nominee [[George W. Bush]] in East Baton Rouge Parish, who received 89,128 votes (52.7 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 7, 2000.</ref>
Six candidates, four Republicans and two Democrats, contested the October 2000 primary for Mayor-President. Democrat Holden led with 34,780 votes (31.2 percent), and Simpson trailed with 27,928 (25.1 percent). Republican Rolfe H. McCollister finished third with 21,850 votes (19.6 percent). Three other candidates held the remaining 24 percent. One of those unsuccessful candidates was Republican Fred Columbus Dent, Jr. (1937–2010), a former [[United States Army]] Green Beret and the son of [[Lucille May Grace]], a Democrat who served for multiple terms as the Louisiana Register of State Lands, no longer an elected statewide position. Fred Dent, Jr., drew 6 percent of the vote.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 7, 2000.</ref> Simpson then defeated Holden in the November 7 general election with 93,952 (56.9 percent) to 71,087 (43.1 percent). Simpson outpolled Republican [[U.S. President|presidential]] nominee [[George W. Bush]] in East Baton Rouge Parish, who received 89,128 votes (52.7 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 7, 2000.</ref>
Mayor Simpson was elected in 2002 as president of the Louisiana Municipal Association, having succeeded Edward Gordon "Ned" Randolph, Jr. (1942-2016) of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] in Rapides Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laota.com/NewsletterWinter2002.htm|title=LATA Newsletter|publisher=laota.com|accessdate=November 20, 2009}}</ref> He was also president of the Louisiana Conference of Mayors. Early in 2004, he unveiled a 10-year plan endorsed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors with the goal of ending chronic [[homelessness]] in Baton Rouge. Simpson endorsed the Samaritan Initiative, an effort to tap into community-wide resources to move the homeless from the streets and temporary shelters into houses.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.ich.gov/library/simpson-testimony_07-13-04.pdf|title=Mayor President Bobby Simpson . . . On H.R. 4057|publisher=ich.gov|accessdate=November 30, 2009}}</ref>
Mayor Simpson was elected in 2002 as president of the Louisiana Municipal Association, having succeeded Edward Gordon "Ned" Randolph, Jr. (1942-2016) of [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] in Rapides Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laota.com/NewsletterWinter2002.htm|title=LATA Newsletter|publisher=laota.com|accessdate=November 20, 2009}}</ref> He was also president of the Louisiana Conference of Mayors. Early in 2004, he unveiled a 10-year plan endorsed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors with the goal of ending chronic [[homelessness]] in Baton Rouge. Simpson endorsed the Samaritan Initiative, an effort to tap into community-wide resources to move the homeless from the streets and temporary shelters into houses.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.ich.gov/library/simpson-testimony_07-13-04.pdf|title=Mayor President Bobby Simpson . . . On H.R. 4057|publisher=ich.gov|accessdate=November 30, 2009}}</ref>
Faced with crime problems, Simpson was active in the organization of a task force to catch suspected serial killer Derrick Todd Lee. Caught in 2003 after ten months as a fugitive in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]], Lee waived [[extradition]] and was returned to Baton Rouge. The case caused Baton Rouge police to re-examine cases previously excluded because there were no [[DNA]] connections.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://karisable.com/skazbr3.htm|title=The Politics of Murder: Will Baton Rouge Clean House?|publisher=karisable.com|accessdate=November 30, 2009}}</ref>
Faced with crime problems, Simpson was active in the organization of a task force to catch suspected serial killer Derrick Todd Lee. Caught in 2003 after ten months as a fugitive in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]], Lee waived [[extradition]] and was returned to Baton Rouge. The case caused Baton Rouge police to re-examine cases previously excluded because there were no [[DNA]] connections.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://karisable.com/skazbr3.htm|title=The Politics of Murder: Will Baton Rouge Clean House?|publisher=karisable.com|accessdate=November 30, 2009}}</ref>
By the time he sought reelection as Mayor-President, Simpson's political fortunes had plummeted. In addition to Holden, five other opponents filed for the office. Holden led in the primary with 39,470 (35.1 percent) to Simpson’s 38,206 (33.9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, September 18, 2004.</ref> In the general election, Holden unseated Simpson, 94,802 (53.9 percent) to 81,142 (46.1 percent). This time, Simpson trailed the second President Bush, who won a second term in office, by 18,801 ballots in East Baton Rouge Parish.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 2, 2004.</ref>
By the time he sought reelection as Mayor-President, Simpson's political fortunes had plummeted. In addition to Holden, five other opponents filed for the office. Holden led in the primary with 39,470 (35.1 percent) to Simpson’s 38,206 (33.9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, September 18, 2004.</ref> In the general election, Holden unseated Simpson, 94,802 (53.9 percent) to 81,142 (46.1 percent). This time, Simpson trailed the second President Bush, who won a second term in office, by 18,801 ballots in East Baton Rouge Parish.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 2, 2004.</ref>
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