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{{Infobox officeholder

{{Infobox officeholder

| name=Arthur Thomas "Tom" Colten​​

| name=Arthur Thomas "Tom" Colten​​

| nationality=[[United States|American​]]

| nationality=[[United States|American​]]

| office=Mayor of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], [[Louisiana]], USA​

| office=Mayor of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], [[Louisiana]], USA​

Colten ran a "reform" campaign, claiming that he wanted to get Minden "moving," implying that the two-term incumbent, [[Frank T. Norman]], who had also backed Goldwater for president, had been too passive during his two terms as mayor from 1958 to 1966 and as public safety commissioner from 1952 to 1958, had been too passive. Colten never used the "R" label. ''The Press-Herald'' on the day after the general election referred to Colten merely as "the challenger," with no mention of party affiliation. Colten received 2,044 votes (55.8 percent) to Norman's 1,622 (44.2 percent).<ref>"Tom Colten Elected Mayor of Minden: Challenger Takes Seven of Ten City Precincts to Win in General Election," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 9, 1966, p. 1.</ref>  

Colten ran a "reform" campaign, claiming that he wanted to get Minden "moving," implying that the two-term incumbent, [[Frank T. Norman]], who had also backed Goldwater for president, had been too passive during his two terms as mayor from 1958 to 1966 and as public safety commissioner from 1952 to 1958, had been too passive. Colten never used the "R" label. ''The Press-Herald'' on the day after the general election referred to Colten merely as "the challenger," with no mention of party affiliation. Colten received 2,044 votes (55.8 percent) to Norman's 1,622 (44.2 percent).<ref>"Tom Colten Elected Mayor of Minden: Challenger Takes Seven of Ten City Precincts to Win in General Election," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 9, 1966, p. 1.</ref>  

Norman had been handicapped in the race in part because a black candidate for mayor named J. D. Hampton, Jr. (1935-2015) — the first black mayoral candidate in city history — had opposed him in the Democratic primary held on August 13, 1966. Norman drew 70 percent of the vote in that exchange but fell short in November against Colten.<ref>''The Minden Press-Herald,'' August 15, 1966, p. 1.</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=XvKBQuetARQC&pg=PA148&lpg=PA148&dq=Frank+Norman+of+Minden,+LA&source=web&ots=uxQlqgp7_M&sig=4qQKWz-rZrUFOZRsmPPZwxD3lPQ&hl=en#PPA148,M1|title=Minden: Perseverance and Pride|publisher=Arcadia Publishing Company|location=[[Columbia]], [[South Carolina]]|author=John A. Agan|pages=148–149|date=2002|isbn=0-7385-2388-7|accessdate=January 23, 2015}}</ref>​

Norman had been handicapped in the race in part because a black candidate for mayor named J. D. Hampton, Jr. (1935-2015) — the first black mayoral candidate in city history — had opposed him in the Democratic primary held on August 13, 1966. Norman drew 70 percent of the vote in that exchange but fell short in November against Colten.<ref>''The Minden Press-Herald,'' August 15, 1966, p. 1.</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=XvKBQuetARQC&pg=PA148&lpg=PA148&dq=Frank+Norman+of+Minden,+LA&source=web&ots=uxQlqgp7_M&sig=4qQKWz-rZrUFOZRsmPPZwxD3lPQ&hl=en#PPA148,M1|title=Minden: Perseverance and Pride|publisher=Arcadia Publishing Company|location=Mount Pleasant, [[South Carolina]]|author=[[John Agan]]|pages=148–149|date=2002|isbn=0-7385-2388-7|accessdate=January 23, 2015}}</ref>​

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In the summer of 1973, Colten resigned as a full-time mayor and converted to part-time status so that he could accept the position of chief executive of the city's private hospital, Minden Medical Center, formerly known as Minden Sanitarium.<ref>"Colten Becomes Part-Time Mayor," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' year-end review edition, January 1, 1974, p. 1.</ref> The change meant that Colten's $12,000 annual salary was cut to $200 per month, the same as for city council members at the time. Had Colten resigned, the senior council member, [[Jack Batton]], whose older brother, [[J. D. Batton]] had been the parish sheriff from 1952 to 1964, would have become mayor for the remainder of Colten's term.<ref>"City Council Appoints Colten Part-Time Mayor," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' August 7, 1973, p. 1.</ref> Colten hence announced that he would not seek a third term in 1974. Then he changed his mind and ran again for the full-time position. This time, Republicans contested most municipal positions.  

In the summer of 1973, Colten resigned as a full-time mayor and converted to part-time status so that he could accept the position of chief executive of the city's private hospital, Minden Medical Center, formerly known as Minden Sanitarium.<ref>"Colten Becomes Part-Time Mayor," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' year-end review edition, January 1, 1974, p. 1.</ref> The change meant that Colten's $12,000 annual salary was cut to $200 per month, the same as for city council members at the time. Had Colten resigned, the senior council member, [[Jack Batton]], whose older brother, [[J. D. Batton]] had been the parish sheriff from 1952 to 1964, would have become mayor for the remainder of Colten's term.<ref>"City Council Appoints Colten Part-Time Mayor," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' August 7, 1973, p. 1.</ref> Colten hence announced that he would not seek a third term in 1974. Then he changed his mind and ran again for the full-time position. This time, Republicans contested most municipal positions.  

In September 1974, some five hundred persons marched on City Hall to protest high utility bills in Minden. The dissidents were responding to the hastily formed Committee for Lower Utilities, headed by Steve Fomby, later a member of the Webster Parish School Board. Some complained that meter readers were staying in their trucks and estimating the readings. A convenience store owner said that if her excessive billing were repeated, she would have to close her doors. Electricity in Minden is sold by the municipality, which uses profits to finance a portion of city government costs.<ref>"Electric Bill Rally Draws 500 to Civic Center," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 18, 1974, p. 1.</ref> Colten and the city council did not attend the rally against the utility bills. Colten was on city business in Baton Rouge at the time but said he would have cancelled the trip had he known about the rally.<ref>"Mayor and City Council Won't Attend Utility Bill Rally," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 17, 1974, p. 1.</ref>

In September 1974, some five hundred persons marched on City Hall to protest high utility bills in Minden. The dissidents were responding to the hastily formed Committee for Lower Utilities, headed by Henry Steven "Steve" Fomby (1945-2025), later a member of the Webster Parish School Board. Some complained that meter readers were staying in their trucks and estimating the readings. A convenience store owner said that if her excessive billing were repeated, she would have to close her doors. Electricity in Minden is sold by the municipality, which uses profits to finance a portion of city government costs.<ref>"Electric Bill Rally Draws 500 to Civic Center," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 18, 1974, p. 1.</ref> Colten and the city council did not attend the rally against the utility bills. Colten was on city business in Baton Rouge at the time but said he would have cancelled the trip had he known about the rally.<ref>"Mayor and City Council Won't Attend Utility Bill Rally," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 17, 1974, p. 1.</ref>

==Defeat in 1974==

==Defeat in 1974==

==Department of Transportation and Development==

==Department of Transportation and Development==

In 1980, Governor Treen appointed Colten as the assistant secretary to Paul Jude Hardy, who had been newly named as the secretary for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Hardy was a former Louisiana secretary of state who had been an unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate in 1979.<ref>A Democrat-turned-Republican, Hardy was later elected lieutenant governor in 1987 — the first Republican elected to that position since [[Reconstruction]].</ref>  

In 1980, Governor Treen appointed Colten as the assistant secretary to [[Paul Hardy]] who had been newly named as the secretary for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Hardy was a former Louisiana secretary of state who had been an unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate in 1979.<ref>A Democrat-turned-Republican, Hardy was later elected lieutenant governor in 1987 — the first Republican elected to that position since [[Reconstruction]].</ref>  

When Hardy left the top transportation post, Treen elevated Colten to secretary of the department. His services were then retained by Governor Edwin Edwards. He also served a second stint as assistant secretary of DOTD under Governor [[Buddy Roemer]], with Neil Lassion Wagoner (1936-2018) of Baton Rouge as the secretary. Colten in effect was came the point man on state highways, and elected officials depended on his expertise.<ref>Joey White, "Colten: Roemer's future depends on Oct. 7 vote?," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 6, 1989, p. 1.</ref>

When Hardy left the top transportation post, Treen elevated Colten to secretary of the department. His services were then retained by Governor Edwin Edwards. He also served a second stint as assistant secretary of DOTD under Governor [[Buddy Roemer]], with Neil Lassion Wagoner (1936-2018) of Baton Rouge as the secretary. Colten in effect was came the point man on state highways, and elected officials depended on his expertise.<ref>Joey White, "Colten: Roemer's future depends on Oct. 7 vote?," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 6, 1989, p. 1.</ref>

Colten was an elected delegate to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention of 1973. He was a former chairman of the Northwest Louisiana Clearinghouse Review Board. He was chairman of the board of directors of the Friends of Louisiana Public Broadcasting. He was a member of the Governor's Property Tax Study Committee, the Joint House-Senate Study Committee on Industrial Inducement, the East Baton Rouge Industrial Development Board, the State Deferred Compensation Commission,<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 24, 1982, p. 1.</ref> the Louisiana Tourism Commission, and the Southern Rapid Rail Transit Commission.​

Colten was an elected delegate to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention of 1973. He was a former chairman of the Northwest Louisiana Clearinghouse Review Board. He was chairman of the board of directors of the Friends of Louisiana Public Broadcasting. He was a member of the Governor's Property Tax Study Committee, the Joint House-Senate Study Committee on Industrial Inducement, the East Baton Rouge Industrial Development Board, the State Deferred Compensation Commission,<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 24, 1982, p. 1.</ref> the Louisiana Tourism Commission, and the Southern Rapid Rail Transit Commission.​

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==Retirement in Kentucky==

==Retirement in Kentucky==

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