Screen became active in politics, joining the Democratic Party. In 1971, Screen served on the committee to elect his fellow Democrat
Jamar Adcock, a banker from
Monroe, as
lieutenant governor. They wanted to position him to succeed
C. C. "Taddy" Aycock of
Franklin in
St. Mary Parish, but the latter did not win the governorship. The position was won by
Jimmy Fitzmorris, a former New Orleans City Councilman, and he was re-elected to a second term. In 1980, Screen won the mayoral position, a combined
municipal-parish office in Baton Rouge. He succeeded Democratic
incumbent W.W. Dumas of
Baker. He was re-elected in 1984. Screen was the only Baton Rouge resident to serve as mayor-president from 1965 through 2004; predecessor Dumas and later successor Bobby Simpson (2001–04) were residents of
Baker; his immediate successor, Tom Ed McHugh (1989-2000), lived in
Zachary. In 1987, Screen and Mary Olive Pierson, his aide during his first term, were
indicted on one count each of
malfeasance in the misapplication of road project funds prior to his successful re-election campaign in 1984. Screen and Pierson maintained their innocence. State Attorney General
William Guste later dismissed the charges on legal grounds. Screen did not seek a third term in 1988. He was succeeded by fellow Democrat
Tom Ed McHugh. ==Personal life==