Changes

'''Joshua Joy Dara, Sr.''', usually known as '''Joy Dara''' (born March 1959),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Home/Home?uid=3698818|title=Joshua Dara, March 1959|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=September 10, 2015}}</ref> is an [[African-American]] [[lawyer]], [[Christianity|Christian]] pastor, and musician/recording artist in his adopted city of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], [[Louisiana]]. His congregation is the 3,000-member Zion Hill Church, one of the largest in Central Louisiana.

'''Joshua Joy Dara, Sr.''', usually known as '''Joy Dara''' (born March 1959),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Home/Home?uid=3698818|title=Joshua Dara, March 1959|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=September 10, 2015}}</ref> is an [[African-American]] [[lawyer]], [[Christianity|Christian]] pastor, and musician/recording artist in his adopted city of [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], [[Louisiana]]. His congregation is the 3,000-member Zion Hill Church, one of the largest in Central Louisiana.

A native of [[Nigeria]], Dara migrated to the United States in 1980, the same year in which he was called to the ministry. He became a U.S. citizen in 1998. He holds an Associate of Arts degree from the Kwara State College of Technology and Basic Studies in Nigeria. He earned a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree from the California Baptist University at [[Riverside]], [[California]]. He received his [[Juris Doctor]]ate from the historically black Southern University College of Law in [[Baton Rouge]], Louisiana. He obtained the Masters of Law degree from the [[University of Arkansas]] School of Law in Fayetteville in northwestern [[Arkansas]].<ref name=jdara/> He is licensed to practice law in Louisiana, Arkansas, and [[Oklahoma]] and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in [[New Orleans]] and the Eighth Circuit in [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]].<ref name=jdara/>

A native of [[Nigeria]], Dara migrated to the United States in 1980, the same year in which he was called to the ministry. He became a U.S. citizen in 1998. He holds an Associate of Arts degree from the Kwara State College of Technology and Basic Studies in Nigeria. He earned a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree from the California Baptist University at [[Riverside]], [[California]]. He received his [[Juris Doctor]]ate from the historically black Southern University College of Law in [[Baton Rouge]], Louisiana. He obtained the Masters of Law degree from the [[University of Arkansas]] School of Law in Fayetteville in northwestern [[Arkansas]].<ref name=jdara/> He is licensed to practice law in Louisiana, Arkansas, and [[Oklahoma]] and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in [[New Orleans]] and the Eighth Circuit in [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]].<ref name=jdara/>

In 1985, Dara wed Elizabeth Joy Dara, who graduated from a teacher's college in Nigeria and holds a Bachelor of Science in physical therapy from Louisiana College in Pineville. The couple has five children.<ref name=jdara/>

Dara's wife, Elizabeth, graduated from a teacher's college in Nigeria and holds a Bachelor of Science in physical therapy from Louisiana College in Pineville. The couple has five children.<ref name=jdara/>

==The ministry==

==The ministry==

==Political campaign==

==Political campaign==

In the [[primary election]] held on October 24, 2015, Dara was the [[Republican Party]] candidate for the District 29 seat in the  Louisiana State Senate. The district encompasses the African-American portions of seven parishes: Bienville, Grant, Jackson, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Rapides, and Winn. Dara was defeated by a white [[Democrat Party|Democrat]], W. Jay Luneau, an attorney from [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] and a [[Baptist]] layman. Luneau polled 13,462 votes (59.3 percent) to Dara's 9,225 (40.7 percent). Luneau won six parishes; Dara prevailed only in Grant Parish, 919 votes to Luneau's 847.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10242015/10242015_Legislative.html|title=Results for Election Date: 10/24/2015|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=October 27, 2015}}</ref> The position opened when the African-American Democrat lawyer Rick Gallot of [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], who also previously served in the Louisiana House of Representatives, did not seek a second term in the state Senate.

In the [[primary election]] held on October 24, 2015, Dara was the [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate for the District 29 seat in the  Louisiana State Senate. The district encompasses the African-American portions of seven parishes: Bienville, Grant, Jackson, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Rapides, and Winn. Dara was defeated by a white [[Democrat Party|Democrat]], W. Jay Luneau, an attorney from [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] and a [[Baptist]] layman. Luneau polled 13,462 votes (59.3 percent) to Dara's 9,225 (40.7 percent). Luneau won six parishes; Dara prevailed only in Grant Parish, 919 votes to Luneau's 847.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10242015/10242015_Legislative.html|title=Results for Election Date: 10/24/2015|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=October 27, 2015}}</ref> The position opened when the African-American Democrat lawyer Rick Gallot of [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], who also previously served in the Louisiana House of Representatives, did not seek a second term in the state Senate.

Dara said that he had been urged by some to "run as an [[Independent voter|independent]] or a Democrat," but concluded, "that wouldn't be true to my calling. I'm very [[conservative]], and I don't need to pretend to be something I'm not."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/08/17/cenla-minister-attorney-enter-senate-race/31881571/|title=Cenla minister, attorney enter Senate race|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=August 18, 2015|author=Greg Hilburn|accessdate=November 7, 2015}}</ref>

Dara said that he had been urged by some to "run as an [[Independent voter|Independent]] or a Democrat," but concluded, "that wouldn't be true to my calling. I'm very [[conservative]], and I don't need to pretend to be something I'm not."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/08/17/cenla-minister-attorney-enter-senate-race/31881571/|title=Cenla minister, attorney enter Senate race|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=August 18, 2015|author=Greg Hilburn|accessdate=November 7, 2015}}</ref>

==References==

==References==