Changes

His  mother was highly engaged in political activism, Gardner moved to Minden at the age of twenty-four in 1978, to take a position with the tobacco company, Philip Morris USA.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://press-herald.com/meet-mayor-elect-terry-gardner-looking-forward/|title=Meet Mayor-elect Terry Gardner Looking Forward|publisher=''The Minden Press-Herald''|author=Juliuna Anderson|date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref name=ksla/> Gardner was the only mayor of Minden who previously lost three races for the city council before becoming mayor. In 2003, running as a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], he lost a council race to incumbent Republican Robert Drew White (born October 28, 1966), the son of a former Minden city attorney and the grandson of the late state representative [[R. Harmon Drew, Sr.]], a descendant from one of the earliest families in Webster Parish. In 2006, still a Democrat, he lost the council race to Republican [[Tommy Davis]], his predecessor as mayor. In 2014, running for the first time as a Republican, Gardner was defeated, 64 to 36 percent, by fellow Republican Michael Scott "Mike" Toland (born October 28, 1959), who did not seek reelection to the council in 2018.

His  mother was highly engaged in political activism, Gardner moved to Minden at the age of twenty-four in 1978, to take a position with the tobacco company, Philip Morris USA.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://press-herald.com/meet-mayor-elect-terry-gardner-looking-forward/|title=Meet Mayor-elect Terry Gardner Looking Forward|publisher=''The Minden Press-Herald''|author=Juliuna Anderson|date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref name=ksla/> Gardner was the only mayor of Minden who previously lost three races for the city council before becoming mayor. In 2003, running as a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], he lost a council race to incumbent Republican Robert Drew White (born October 28, 1966), the son of a former Minden city attorney and the grandson of the late state representative [[R. Harmon Drew, Sr.]], a descendant from one of the earliest families in Webster Parish. In 2006, still a Democrat, he lost the council race to Republican [[Tommy Davis]], his predecessor as mayor. In 2014, running for the first time as a Republican, Gardner was defeated, 64 to 36 percent, by fellow Republican Michael Scott "Mike" Toland (born October 28, 1959), who did not seek reelection to the council in 2018.

When Mayor Davis stepped down after five years in the position, Gardner ran against the only Democrat in the race, William Kerry "Winky" Newer (born June 4, 1962), the previous long-term municipal recreation director who carried Davis' support.  Newer said that had he been elected he would have sought to strengthen municipal financial growth." I will continue our attempts to lower the electrical rates by all means possible. We must continue our effort to attract new industry and business to our area," he said.

When Mayor Davis stepped down after five years in the position, Gardner ran against the only Democrat in the race, William Kerry "Winky" Newer (born June 4, 1962), the previous long-term municipal recreation director who carried Davis' support.  Newer said that had he been elected he would have sought to strengthen municipal financial growth. "I will continue our attempts to lower the electrical rates by all means possible. We must continue our effort to attract new industry and business to our area," he said.

Through his Gardner Group, he owned several businesses in downtown Minden. “The citizens of Minden are just remarkable. I want to run for mayor because Minden has been so good to me over the last thirty-five years. They’ve supported me and my businesses and enabled us to grow our businesses.”<ref name=ksla>{{cite web|url=http://www.ksla.com/2018/10/11/two-vying-be-mindens-mayor/

Through his Gardner Group, he owned several businesses in downtown Minden. “The citizens of Minden are just remarkable. I want to run for mayor because Minden has been so good to me over the last thirty-five years. They’ve supported me and my businesses and enabled us to grow our businesses.”<ref name=ksla>{{cite web|url=http://www.ksla.com/2018/10/11/two-vying-be-mindens-mayor/

|title=Two vying to be Minden's mayor|publisher=KSLA ([[CBS]] in Shreveport)|date=October 10, 2018|author=Christian Piekes|accessdate=November 28, 2018}}</ref> Gardner was opposed to increasing municipal fees and taxes and will seek to upgrade the municipal infrastructure through the hiring of a full-time grants writer, who would seek revenues from outside sources.<ref name=tgg/>

|title=Two vying to be Minden's mayor|publisher=KSLA ([[CBS]] in Shreveport)|date=October 10, 2018|author=Christian Piekes|accessdate=November 28, 2018}}</ref> Gardner was opposed to increasing municipal fees and taxes and soughtk to upgrade the municipal infrastructure through the hiring of a full-time grants writer, who would seek revenues from outside sources.<ref name=tgg/>

In a campaign characterized primarily by the aggressive display of yard signs, Gardner emerged victorious over Newer, 2,164 to 2,127. Turnout was 53.7 percent of registered voters.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 6, 2018.</ref>

In a campaign characterized primarily by the aggressive display of yard signs, Gardner emerged victorious over Newer, 2,164 to 2,127. Turnout was 53.7 percent of registered voters.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 6, 2018.</ref>