Changes

A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Cornelius through his role as Mayor Pro Tem became mayor in June 2013, upon the death of long-term mayor [[Bill Robertson]]. After Robertson's death, the council voted  three-to-two, along racial lines, to elevate Cornelius as the interim mayor.<ref name=keel>KEEL [[Radio]], [[Shreveport]], July 11, 2013.</ref>   

A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Cornelius through his role as Mayor Pro Tem became mayor in June 2013, upon the death of long-term mayor [[Bill Robertson]]. After Robertson's death, the council voted  three-to-two, along racial lines, to elevate Cornelius as the interim mayor.<ref name=keel>KEEL [[Radio]], [[Shreveport]], July 11, 2013.</ref>   

   

   

Before his death, Robertson, also a Democrat, had recommended that the city council choose as the next mayor [[Tommy Davis|Marvin Thomas "Tommy" Davis]] (like Cornelius born in September 1942), a [[Republican Party|Republican]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20130702/NEWS01/307020015/Minden-mayor-picks-successor-before-his-death|title=Minden mayor picks successor before his death: Bill Robertson wants Tommy Davis as interim|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date= July 1, 2013|accessdate=July 2, 2013}}</ref> First elected in 2006, Davis was the only Republican on the  city council.The current council consissts of three black Democrats and two white Republicans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/09302006/09302006_60.html|title=Webster Parish primary election returns, September 30, 2006|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=July 2, 2013}}</ref> Davis, also a businessman, is a native of Stephens, [[Arkansas]].

Before his death, Robertson, also a Democrat, had recommended that the city council choose as the next mayor [[Tommy Davis|Marvin Thomas "Tommy" Davis]] (like Cornelius born in September 1942), a [[Republican Party|Republican]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20130702/NEWS01/307020015/Minden-mayor-picks-successor-before-his-death|title=Minden mayor picks successor before his death: Bill Robertson wants Tommy Davis as interim|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date= July 1, 2013|accessdate=July 2, 2013}}</ref> First elected in 2006, Davis was the only Republican on the  city council. The council at the time consisted of three black Democrats and two white Republicans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/09302006/09302006_60.html|title=Webster Parish primary election returns, September 30, 2006|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=July 2, 2013}}</ref> Davis, also a businessman, is a native of Stephens, [[Arkansas]].

In the special election held on October 19, 2013, to fill the remainder of Robertson's term, Davis unseated Cornelius, 2,254 (61 percent) to 821 (22 percent). A third candidate, Walter "Woo" Morgan Jr., an African-American barber and hair stylist who operates a shop at the intersection of East Street and Martin Luther King, Jr.  Drive in Minden, polled the remaining 646 votes (17 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lasos.blob.core.windows.net/graphical-prod/rss/10192013_Parish.xml|title=Webster: Mayor City of Minden, October 19, 2013|publisher=lasos.blob.core.windows.net|accessdate=October 19, 2013}}</ref> Morgan had campaigned on a platform calling for the return of a movie theater to the city, the last of which closed during the 1970s, as sell as enhanced recreational opportunities though the city operates a recreational center off the Interstate 20 service road.<ref name=ktbs/>  

In the special election held on October 19, 2013, to fill the remainder of Robertson's term, Davis unseated Cornelius, 2,254 (61 percent) to 821 (22 percent). A third candidate, Walter "Woo" Morgan Jr., an African-American barber and hair stylist who operates a shop at the intersection of East Street and Martin Luther King, Jr.  Drive in Minden, polled the remaining 646 votes (17 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lasos.blob.core.windows.net/graphical-prod/rss/10192013_Parish.xml|title=Webster: Mayor City of Minden, October 19, 2013|publisher=lasos.blob.core.windows.net|accessdate=October 19, 2013}}</ref> Morgan had campaigned on a platform calling for the return of a movie theater to the city, the last of which closed during the 1970s, as sell as enhanced recreational opportunities though the city operates a recreational center off the Interstate 20 service road.<ref name=ktbs/>