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Wilson was elected [[mayor]] of Vivian in 1966 and served until 1972, when he assumed the District 1 seat in the state legislature. When Wilson won the Democratic nomination for the state House seat, the Republican candidate, Bruce Newton Lynn, I, withdrew in favor of Wilson, with whom he had served on the North Caddo Parish Hospital Board. Lynn described Wilson as a "very successful" mayor and a popular Vivian grocer. He was also an avid golfer and was often seen on the links at the Monterey Country Club in Vivian. Wilson was succeeded as mayor by [[James Whitfield Williamson]], a son of [[Earl Williamson]], whom Wilson had followed in the position of mayor. Earl Williamson was also a veteran Caddo Parish Police Jury member. James Williamson, like Jimmy Wilson, was affiliated with the Citizen's Bank board.  

Wilson was elected [[mayor]] of Vivian in 1966 and served until 1972, when he assumed the District 1 seat in the state legislature. When Wilson won the Democratic nomination for the state House seat, the Republican candidate, Bruce Newton Lynn, I, withdrew in favor of Wilson, with whom he had served on the North Caddo Parish Hospital Board. Lynn described Wilson as a "very successful" mayor and a popular Vivian grocer. He was also an avid golfer and was often seen on the links at the Monterey Country Club in Vivian. Wilson was succeeded as mayor by [[James Whitfield Williamson]], a son of [[Earl Williamson]], whom Wilson had followed in the position of mayor. Earl Williamson was also a veteran Caddo Parish Police Jury member. James Williamson, like Jimmy Wilson, was affiliated with the Citizen's Bank board.  

Wilson was considered a conservative reformer during his term in the legislature. He was one of the leading supporters of the [[right-to-work]] law that was adopted shortly after he left the legislature. Wilson also worked to deregulate the milk industry. In 1975, Wilson, still a Democrat, ran for the state Senate but lost in the general election to Democratic incumbent and later Republican Donald Wayne "Don" Williamson, also of Vivian, another son of Earl Williamson and a brother of James Williamson. Don Williamson defeated Wilson in part by reminding voters that Wilson had a high rate of absenteeism while in the state House. "He did not vote for you. Why should you vote for him," proclaimed the Williamson advertisements. Bruce Lynn after waiting out a term won Wilson's House seat by a narrow margin in the 1975 general election.  

Wilson was considered a conservative reformer during his term in the legislature. He was one of the leading supporters of the [[right-to-work]] law that was adopted shortly after he left the legislature. Wilson also worked to deregulate the milk industry. In 1975, Wilson, still a Democrat, ran for the state Senate but lost in the general election to Democratic incumbent and later Republican [[Don Williamson|Donald Wayne "Don" Williamson]], then of Vivian and another son of Earl Williamson and a brother of James Williamson. Don Williamson defeated Wilson in part by reminding voters that Wilson had a high rate of absenteeism while in the state House. "He did not vote for you. Why should you vote for him," proclaimed the Williamson advertisements. Bruce Lynn after waiting out a term won Wilson's House seat by a narrow margin in the 1975 general election.

 

==1978 congressional primary==

==1978 congressional primary==

Wilson switched parties to run for Congress: "I have never voted for a Democrat for President, and the only way for the Republican Party to grow is for Democrats to switch over."[1] He quickly emerged as the leading Republican candidate in the new Louisiana nonpartisan blanket primary format to choose a successor to retiring Democratic Representative [[Joe Waggonner]] of Plain Dealing. Wilson did not switch parties until after Waggonner declared that he would not seek reelection. The Republican leadership, under state chairman George Joseph Despot(1927-1991) of Shreveport, considered endorsing either state Representatives Arthur W. "Art" Sour of [[Shreveport]], or Bruce Lynn, or a younger prospect, Bossier City council member Chester J. "Buzz" Wojecki. The party finally decided in caucus to anoint Wilson as the candidate most electable in the historically Democratic district.  

Wilson switched parties to run for Congress: "I have never voted for a Democrat for President, and the only way for the Republican Party to grow is for Democrats to switch over."[1] He quickly emerged as the leading Republican candidate in the new Louisiana nonpartisan blanket primary format to choose a successor to retiring Democratic Representative [[Joe Waggonner]] of Plain Dealing. Wilson did not switch parties until after Waggonner declared that he would not seek reelection. The Republican leadership, under state chairman George Joseph Despot(1927-1991) of Shreveport, considered endorsing either state Representatives Arthur W. "Art" Sour of [[Shreveport]], or Bruce Lynn, or a younger prospect, Bossier City council member Chester J. "Buzz" Wojecki. The party finally decided in caucus to anoint Wilson as the candidate most electable in the historically Democratic district.