Changes

In his first term as streets and parks commissioner in 1946, Batton and then newly elected Mayor [[John T. David]] moved forward a plan to blacktop eight miles of Minden municipal streets, beginning with a short link of Bayou Avenue from Pine Street west to the Minden Cemetery.<ref>"Paving Program Announced by Mayor David", ''Minden Herald'', August 2, 1946, p. 1.</ref> At the time, most city streets were unpaved, and the city had used mule-drawn equipment. Batton was the city council president at the time of his defeat in 1962. He stressed street paving, curbing and guttering, and improvements to parks in his unsuccessful reelection bid.<ref>Batton advertisement, ''Minden Herald'', May 3, 1962, p. 9.</ref>

In his first term as streets and parks commissioner in 1946, Batton and then newly elected Mayor [[John T. David]] moved forward a plan to blacktop eight miles of Minden municipal streets, beginning with a short link of Bayou Avenue from Pine Street west to the Minden Cemetery.<ref>"Paving Program Announced by Mayor David", ''Minden Herald'', August 2, 1946, p. 1.</ref> At the time, most city streets were unpaved, and the city had used mule-drawn equipment. Batton was the city council president at the time of his defeat in 1962. He stressed street paving, curbing and guttering, and improvements to parks in his unsuccessful reelection bid.<ref>Batton advertisement, ''Minden Herald'', May 3, 1962, p. 9.</ref>

After a four-year hiatus, Batton returned to the council in 1966, when Mayor [[Frank T. Norman]] was unseated by the [[Republican Party|Republican]] Tom Colten and streets and parks commissioner Travis Taylor did seek reelection. Batton won his last term as streets and parks commissioner in 1974, when he defeated two intraparty opponents, Emily Doss and the businessman William J. Rabon (1922–1991), who had owned the former Star Furniture Company on the Shreveport Road in Minden.

After a four-year hiatus, Batton returned to the council in 1966, when Mayor [[Frank T. Norman]] was unseated by the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Tom Colten]]. Batton returned to the streets and parks commissioner position, which Travis Taylor was leaving after one term. Batton won his last term as streets and parks commissioner in 1974, when he defeated two intraparty opponents, Emily Doss and the businessman William J. Rabon (1922–1991), who had owned the former Star Furniture Company on the Shreveport Road in Minden.

In 1977, as a council member, Batton abstained on a proposal to increase the salary of the mayor from $16,000 to $19,000 annually, effective January 1979. City employees were given an 8 percent pay increase.<ref>"Batton abstains on pay raises", ''Minden Press-Herald'', October 4, 1977, p. 1</ref> Ironically, Batton benefited from the higher mayoral pay, as he assumed the office on January 1, 1979.

In 1977, as a council member, Batton abstained on a proposal to increase the salary of the mayor from $16,000 to $19,000 annually, effective January 1979. City employees were given an 8 percent pay increase.<ref>"Batton abstains on pay raises", ''Minden Press-Herald'', October 4, 1977, p. 1</ref> Ironically, Batton benefited from the higher mayoral pay, as he assumed the office on January 1, 1979.