Changes

|term_start=January 1, 1985

|term_start=January 1, 1985

|term_end=December 31, 2002

|term_end=December 31, 2002

|preceded=Edward Francis Kennon

|preceded=[[Edward Kennon]]

|succeeded=Foster Lonnie Campbell, Jr.

|succeeded=Foster Lonnie Campbell, Jr.

}}

}}

==Political career==

==Political career==

When Edward Kennon stepped down after two terms on the now five-member Public Service Commission, Owen, a [[Democrat]], entered the race to succeed him. He was elected in 1984, 1990, and 1996. In 1990, he defeated an [[Independent]] candidate named "Charlie Brown", 179,712 (78.4 percent) to 49,385 (21.6 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10061990/10061990_MultiParish.html|title=Primary election returns, October 6, 1990|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=July 2, 2012}}</ref> In 1996, in a near image of the 1990 results, Owen defeated another Independent, Jim Crowley, 142,799 votes (74.5 percent) to 49,018 (25.6 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/09211996/09211996_MultiParish.html|title=Primary election returns, September 21, 1996|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=July 2, 2012}}</ref>

When [[Edward Kennon]], a native of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], stepped down after two terms on the now five-member Public Service Commission, Owen, a [[Democratic Parrty|

Democrat]], entered the race to succeed him. He was elected in 1984, 1990, and 1996. In 1990, Owen defeated an [[Independent]] candidate named "Charlie Brown", 179,712 (78.4 percent) to 49,385 (21.6 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10061990/10061990_MultiParish.html|title=Primary election returns, October 6, 1990|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=July 2, 2012}}</ref> In 1996, in a near image of the 1990 results, Owen defeated another Independent, Jim Crowley, 142,799 votes (74.5 percent) to 49,018 (25.6 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/09211996/09211996_MultiParish.html|title=Primary election returns, September 21, 1996|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=July 2, 2012}}</ref>

   

   

In 2002, however, Owen was narrowly unseated by then State Senator Foster Campbell, a fellow Democrat from Bossier Parish, who still holds this seat on the regulatory commission. In the 24-parish district, Campbell received 123,749 votes (50.7 percent) to Owen's 120,413 (49.3 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11052002/11052002_MultiParish.html|title=General election returns, November 5, 2002|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=July 2, 2012}}</ref>

In 2002, however, Owen was narrowly unseated by then State Senator Foster Campbell, a fellow Democrat from Bossier Parish, who still holds this seat on the regulatory commission. In the 24-parish district, Campbell received 123,749 votes (50.7 percent) to Owen's 120,413 (49.3 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11052002/11052002_MultiParish.html|title=General election returns, November 5, 2002|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=July 2, 2012}}</ref>