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Line 38: − + − + − + − In 1968, Baker, at thirty-three, was elected as a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] to the Franklin Parish Police Jury (equivalent of county commission]in other states). He won his primary by only nineteen votes. In February 1969, he switched to the Republican Party and set forth to build a competitive two-party system in his region and state, a goal for which there was no political infrastructure. While he was on the police jury, the body joined the 11-parish North Delta Economic Planning and Development Council. Baker served on this council during his single term on the jury.+ Line 47:
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'''John Henry Baker III''' (October 20, 1934 – January 9, 2015), was a [[farmer]] and landowner from Franklin Parish in northeastern [[Louisiana]] who was active in the rebirth of the [[Republican Party]] in his state during the 1970s and 1980s. Baker was his party's nominee for the District 22 seat in the Louisiana State Senate in 1972 and for the since disbanded position of state elections commissioner in 1979. He was the first to propose the abolition of the commissioner's post (originally called the "custodian of voting machines") with the return of the duties to the Louisiana Secretary of State. Baker's proposal was adopted a quarter of a century later in 2004.
'''John Henry Baker III''' (October 20, 1934 – January 9, 2015), was a [[farmer]] and landowner from Franklin Parish in northeastern [[Louisiana]] who was active in the rebirth of the [[Republican Party]] in his state during the 1970s and 1980s. Baker was his party's nominee for the District 22 seat in the Louisiana State Senate in 1972 and for the since disbanded position of state elections commissioner in 1979. He was the first to propose the abolition of the commissioner's post (originally called the "custodian of voting machines") with the return of the duties to the Louisiana Secretary of State. Baker's proposal was adopted a quarter of a century later in 2004.
==Background==
Baker was born in Greenville in Washington County in western [[Mississippi]], to John Henry Baker, Jr., and Cecilia Myers Baker Radau (1915-2001), a native of Rockdale in Milam County, [[Texas]], whose second husband was Fred C. Radau (1915-1977).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/162452361|title=Cecelia "Celia" Myers Radau|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=May 11, 2016}}</ref> He was reared in a [[rural]] area near Delhi, located in neighboring Richland Parish, but the Baker ancestral property and his voting residence was in northern Franklin Parish. Baker's brother, Bob Roy Baker (1936-2002) of Delhi, died a month after the passing of Baker's son, John Henry "Hank" Baker, IV (1958-2002).<ref name=brb>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/123954462|title=Bob Roy Baker|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=May 11, 2016}}</ref>
Baker was born in Greenville in Washington County in western [[Mississippi]], to John Henry Baker, Jr., and Cecilia Myers Baker Radau (1915-2001), a native of Rockdale in Milam County, [[Texas]], whose second husband was Fred C. Radau (1915-1977).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/162452361|title=Cecelia "Celia" Myers Radau|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=May 11, 2016}}</ref> He was reared in a [[rural]] area near Delhi, located in neighboring Richland Parish, but the Baker ancestral property and his voting residence was in northern Franklin Parish. Baker's brother, Bob Roy Baker (1936-2002) of Delhi, died a month after the passing of Baker's son, John Henry "Hank" Baker, IV (1958-2002).<ref name=brb>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/123954462|title=Bob Roy Baker|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=May 11, 2016}}</ref>
Baker was twice [[divorce]]d. He was married until his death to his third wife, the former Linda Rae Martin. From his first marriage to the former Melba Jo Thomas (born 1941), was born John "Hank" Baker, IV, who is interred at Myrtle Memorial Cemetery in Winnsboro.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Baker&GSfn=John+&GSmn=Henry&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=29912595&df=all&|title=John Henry "Hank" Baker, IV|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=May 10, 2016}}</ref> Baker was survived by a daughter, Jefferi Baker Ryals (born October 1961), and her husband, Robert Lee Ryals (born March 1957), of Delhi.<ref name=findagrave/>
Baker was twice [[divorce]]d. He was married until his death to his third wife, the former Linda Rae Martin. From his first marriage to the former Melba Jo Thomas (born 1941), was born John "Hank" Baker, IV, who is interred at Myrtle Memorial Cemetery in Winnsboro.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Baker&GSfn=John+&GSmn=Henry&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=29912595&df=all&|title=John Henry "Hank" Baker, IV|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=May 10, 2016}}</ref> Baker was survived by a daughter, Jefferi Baker Ryals (born October 1961), and her husband, Robert Lee Ryals (born March 1957), of Delhi.<ref name=findagrave/>
In 1984, Baker established KPCH 99.3 FM [[radio]] outlet ("The Peach Station") in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], Louisiana. In 1987, he sold the company, which offered 1960s and 1970s [[oldies music]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://radiotime.com/station/s_34228/KPCH.aspx|title=KPCH Radio|publisher=radiotime.com|accessdate=January 29, 2009}}</ref>
In 1984, Baker established KPCH 99.3 FM [[radio]] outlet ("The Peach Station") in [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], Louisiana. In 1987, he sold the company, which offered 1960s and 1970s oldies music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://radiotime.com/station/s_34228/KPCH.aspx|title=KPCH Radio|publisher=radiotime.com|accessdate=January 29, 2009}}</ref>
== Franklin Parish Police Jury ==
==Franklin Parish Police Jury==
At the age of thirty-three, Baker was elected in 1968 as a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] to the Franklin Parish Police Jury (equivalent of county commission]in other states). He won his primary by only nineteen votes. In February 1969, he switched to the Republican Party and set forth to build a competitive two-party system in his region and state, a goal for which there was no political infrastructure. While he was on the police jury, the body joined the 11-parish North Delta Economic Planning and Development Council. Baker served on this council during his single term on the jury.
While on the jury, Baker was appointed to the Franklin Parish Library Board, on which he served for thirteen years. Baker was chairman of the Franklin Parish Republican Party intermittently since the 1970s.
While on the jury, Baker was appointed to the Franklin Parish Library Board, on which he served for thirteen years. Baker was chairman of the Franklin Parish Republican Party intermittently since the 1970s.
Long after his term had ended, Baker sought a comeback for the District 1 seat on the Franklin Parish Police Jury in the 1987 primary but finished out of the running with 24 percent of the ballots cast. Two Democrats instead advanced to the general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/static/1987-10-24/resultsRace/21|title=Election Returns|date=October 24, 1987|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=November 5, 2018}}</ref>
Long after his term had ended, Baker sought a comeback for the District 1 seat on the Franklin Parish Police Jury in the 1987 primary but finished out of the running with 24 percent of the ballots cast. Two Democrats instead advanced to the general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/static/1987-10-24/resultsRace/21|title=Election Returns|date=October 24, 1987|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=November 5, 2018}}</ref>
== Running for the state Senate ==
==Running for the state Senate==
In the winter of 1971 to 1972, Baker ran for the state Senate against the 31-year-old Democratic nominee, James Harvey "Jim" Brown, a graduate of [[Tulane University]] in [[New Orleans]] and the father of [[television]] journalist Campbell Brown. At the time Brown was a politically ambitious lawyer in Ferriday in Concordia Parish, located along the [[Mississippi River]] across from Natchez, Mississippi. Besides Franklin and Concordia, the district included Catahoula and Tensas parishes. The outgoing senator was J. C. "Sonny" Gilbert of Sicily Island in Catahoula Parish. Gilbert ran successfully for the state House that year; after he left the legislature, he switched to Republican affiliation.
In the winter of 1971 to 1972, Baker ran for the state Senate against the 31-year-old Democratic nominee, James Harvey "Jim" Brown, a graduate of [[Tulane University]] in [[New Orleans]] and the father of [[television]] journalist Campbell Brown. At the time Brown was a politically ambitious lawyer in Ferriday in Concordia Parish, located along the [[Mississippi River]] across from Natchez, Mississippi. Besides Franklin and Concordia, the district included Catahoula and Tensas parishes. The outgoing senator was J. C. "Sonny" Gilbert of Sicily Island in Catahoula Parish. Gilbert ran successfully for the state House that year; after he left the legislature, he switched to Republican affiliation.