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'''Richard Terry Burford, Sr.''', known as '''Richie Burford''' (born August 19, 1946) is a beef and dairy farmer from Stonewall, [[Louisiana]] who is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] former state representative for District 7, which encompasses southern Caddo, DeSoto, and Sabine parishes in the northwestern portion of his state. Burford in 2008 became the first Republican to represent DeSoto Parish in the state legislature since [[Reconstruction]]. In 2015, Burford was an unsuccessful candidate for the Louisiana State Senate in District 38 to succeed the term-limited [[Moderate Republican]] Sherri Smith Cheek Buffington of [[Shreveport]].

'''Richard Terry Burford, Sr.''', known as '''Richie Burford''' (born August 19, 1946), is a beef and dairy farmer from Stonewall, [[Louisiana]] who is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] former state representative for District 7, which encompasses southern Caddo, DeSoto, and Sabine parishes in the northwestern portion of his state. Burford in 2008 became the first Republican to represent DeSoto Parish in the state legislature since [[Reconstruction]]. In 2015, Burford was an unsuccessful candidate for the Louisiana State Senate in District 38 to succeed the term-limited [[Moderate Republican]] Sherri Smith Cheek Buffington of [[Shreveport]].

==Background==

==Background==

Burford is one of four children of dairy farmer James Underwood Burford, Sr. (1919-2013) and the former Bernice Midyett (1921-1986) of Gloster, also in DeSoto Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://old.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Burford&GSfn=James&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1124&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=120139213&df=all&|title=James Underwood Burford, Sr.|publisher=Oldfindagrave.com|accessdate=February 14, 2018}}</ref>  His older brother, Harvey Midyett Burford, (1945-2017) was also a dairy farmer and the owner of H&J Burford Trucking, Inc. The parents and brother are interred at Gloster Trinity Cemetery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=harvey-burford&pid=187333111|title=Harvey Burford|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=November 25, 2017|accessdate=February 14, 2018}}</ref> Burford and his wife, Sandra Amburn "Sandy" Burford, have a son, Richard, Jr.

Burford is one of four children of dairy farmer James Underwood Burford, Sr. (1919-2013) and the former Bernice Midyett (1921-1986) of Gloster, also in DeSoto Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://old.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Burford&GSfn=James&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1124&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=120139213&df=all&|title=James Underwood Burford, Sr.|publisher=Oldfindagrave.com|accessdate=February 14, 2018}}</ref>  His older brother, Harvey Midyett Burford, (1945-2017) was also a dairy farmer and the owner of H&J Burford Trucking, Inc. The parents and brother are interred at Gloster Trinity Cemetery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=harvey-burford&pid=187333111|title=Harvey Burford|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=November 25, 2017|accessdate=February 14, 2018}}</ref> Burford and his wife, Sandra Amburn "Sandy" Burford, have a son, Richard, Jr.

===2011 reelection===

===2011 reelection===

Burford easily won a second term in the House in the primary election held on October 22, 2011. He defeated the Democrat Cynthia "Cindy" Stephens Williams, 6,652 (68.9 percent) to 3,001 ballots (31.1 percent).<ref name=returns>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10222011/10222011_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, October 22, 2011|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=October 22, 2011}}</ref> Democrat Kenny Cox, who lost to Burford in 2007, meanwhile unseated Republican Representative [[Rick Nowlin]] of [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]] for the District 23 House seat in the general election held on November 19, 2011.<ref name=returns/>

Burford easily won a second term in the House in the primary election held on October 22, 2011. He defeated the Democrat Cynthia "Cindy" Stephens Williams, 6,652 (68.9 percent) to 3,001 ballots (31.1 percent).<ref name=returns>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10222011/10222011_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, October 22, 2011|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=October 22, 2011}}</ref> Democrat Kenny Cox, who lost to Burford in 2007, meanwhile unseated Republican Representative [[Rick Nowlin]] of [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]] for the District 23 House seat in the general election held on November 19, 2011.<ref name=returns/>

===2015 unsuccessful state Senate race===

===2015 unsuccessful state Senate race===

In the state Senate primary, Burford led a four-candidate field for the seat with 9,566 votes (35.2 percent). Shreveport Democrat attorney [[John Milkovich]], a [[Montana]] native who resides in Keithville in southern Caddo Parish, trailed with 9,061 votes (33.3 percent). Republican Cloyce Clark, who vowed "New Conservative Leadership" finished third with 5,885 votes (21.6 percent).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Clark|first1=Cloyce|url=http://www.cloyceclark.com|title=Cloyce Clark: New Conservative Leadership|accessdate=July 25, 2015}}</ref> The Democrat Jemayel Warren received a small but critical 2,693 votes (9.9 percent).<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 24, 2015}}</ref>

In the state Senate primary, Burford led a four-candidate field for the seat with 9,566 votes (35.2 percent). Shreveport Democrat attorney [[John Milkovich]], a [[Montana]] native who resides in Keithville in southern Caddo Parish, trailed with 9,061 votes (33.3 percent). Republican Cloyce Clark, who vowed "New Conservative Leadership" finished third with 5,885 votes (21.6 percent).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Clark|first1=Cloyce|url=http://www.cloyceclark.com|title=Cloyce Clark: New Conservative Leadership|accessdate=July 25, 2015}}</ref> The Democrat Jemayel Warren received a small but critical 2,693 votes (9.9 percent).<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 24, 2015}}</ref>

Milkovich, who ran as a conservative Democrat who opposes abortion and supports [[school prayer]], then defeated Burford in the runoff contest, 15,665 votes (52.4 percent) to 14,206 (47.6 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11212015/11212015_Legislative.html|title=Results for Election Date: 11/21/2015|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=December 3, 2015}}</ref>

Milkovich, who ran as a conservative Democrat who opposes abortion and supports [[school prayer]], then defeated Burford in the runoff contest, 15,665 votes (52.4 percent) to 14,206 (47.6 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11212015/11212015_Legislative.html|title=Results for Election Date: 11/21/2015|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=December 3, 2015}}</ref>

==Legislative record==

==Legislative record==

Burford's legislative ratings ranged from 78 to 95 percent from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. In 2012, he was rated 100 percent by the National Federation of Independent Business. In 2013 and 2014, the conservative Louisiana Family Forum scored him 90 and 100 percent, respectively. Louisiana [[Right to Life]] scored him 100 percent for every year that he was in the legislature. In 2013 and 2014, the Louisiana Association of Educators rated him 8 and 33 percent, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/87511/richard-burford#.VVgBoMstGhw

Burford's legislative ratings ranged from 78 to 95 percent from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. In 2012, he was rated 100 percent by the National Federation of Independent Business. In 2013 and 2014, the conservative Louisiana Family Forum scored him 90 and 100 percent, respectively. Louisiana [[Right to Life]] scored him 100 percent for every year that he was in the legislature. In 2013 and 2014, the Louisiana Association of Educators rated him 8 and 33 percent, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/87511/richard-burford#.VVgBoMstGhw

|title=Richard Burford's Ratings and Endorsements|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=May 16, 2015}}</ref>

|title=Richard Burford's Ratings and Endorsements|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=May 16, 2015}}</ref>