Changes

Doerge was a big reelection winner in 1995, when he defeated two Republican women. He died near the end of his second term. Jean, widowed at the age of sixty-one, ran in the [[special election]] to succeed him and was an easy winner. She polled 3,048 votes (67 percent) to defeat the Democrat-turned-Republican Garland Mack Garrett, an oil company owner from Springhill born in 1942,<ref>"Garrett is Senate challenger," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 16, 1987, p. 4A.</ref> who obtained 1,481 ballots (33 percent). She was subsequently elected without opposition to full terms in 1999 and 2003. Doerge is the third woman to succeed her husband in the Webster Parish state House seat. Lizzie P. Thompson and Mary Smith Gleason were both named to the seat by [[Governor]] [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]]  when their husbands, C. W. Thompson(1890-1951) and Ernest Dewey Gleason (1899-1959), died in office. Unlike Doerge, neither Thompson nor Gleason sought to hold the seat for a term of her own.​

Doerge was a big reelection winner in 1995, when he defeated two Republican women. He died near the end of his second term. Jean, widowed at the age of sixty-one, ran in the [[special election]] to succeed him and was an easy winner. She polled 3,048 votes (67 percent) to defeat the Democrat-turned-Republican Garland Mack Garrett, an oil company owner from Springhill born in 1942,<ref>"Garrett is Senate challenger," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 16, 1987, p. 4A.</ref> who obtained 1,481 ballots (33 percent). She was subsequently elected without opposition to full terms in 1999 and 2003. Doerge is the third woman to succeed her husband in the Webster Parish state House seat. Lizzie P. Thompson and Mary Smith Gleason were both named to the seat by [[Governor]] [[Earl Long|Earl Kemp Long]]  when their husbands, C. W. Thompson(1890-1951) and Ernest Dewey Gleason (1899-1959), died in office. Unlike Doerge, neither Thompson nor Gleason sought to hold the seat for a term of her own.​

​

​

==Legislative accomplishments==​

==Legislative accomplishments==

 

In 2001, Mrs. Doerge worked to establish a special district to authorize the creation of a fire and emergency training service district, only the second  created in Louisiana. She helped various residents in the Dubberly community in south Webster Parish obtain [[water]] service when their wells went dry. She also helped to secure a grant for the Cotton Valley water system.​

In 2001, Mrs. Doerge worked to establish a special district to authorize the creation of a fire and emergency training service district, only the second  created in Louisiana. She helped various residents in the Dubberly community in south Webster Parish obtain [[water]] service when their wells went dry. She also helped to secure a grant for the Cotton Valley water system.​

​

​

Doerge's ''alma mater, NSU, inducted her into the College of Business Hall of Distinction. Her name is engraved on a plaque located in the foyer of Russell Hall. The Louisiana Police Jury (equivalent of county commission in other states) Association presented her with its "Friends of the Parishes" award.​

Doerge's ''alma mater, NSU, inducted her into the College of Business Hall of Distinction. Her name is engraved on a plaque located in the foyer of Russell Hall. The Louisiana Police Jury (equivalent of county commission in other states) Association presented her with its "Friends of the Parishes" award.​

​

​

==A cancer survivor==​

==A cancer survivor==​

​

​

Doerge is a [[breast cancer]] survivor. In an interview with Juanita Agan (1923-2008) of the 'The Minden Press-Herald,''  the [[Methodist]] Doerge attributed her recovery to the will and love of God and His answer to her prayers for strength and endurance, the care of her physicians, the love of her family, and the concern of friends. Late in 2004, she was declared cancer-free.​<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 1, 2007.</ref>

Doerge is a [[breast cancer]] survivor. In an interview with Juanita Agan (1923-2008) of the 'The Minden Press-Herald,''  the [[Methodist]] Doerge attributed her recovery to the will and love of God and His answer to her prayers for strength and endurance, the care of her physicians, the love of her family, and the concern of friends. Late in 2004, she was declared cancer-free.​<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 1, 2007.</ref>

​

​

==Reelection in 2007==​

==Last reelection in 2007==​

​

​

Doerge easily retained her seat in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2007. She received 6,681 votes (57 percent) to 4,133 (35 percent) for [[Ronnie Broughton]] of Minden, the then president of the Webster Parish School Board and a Republican who later left that party to become the state chairman of the [[Constitution Party]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/07/26/constitution-party-meets-possible-presidential-nominee/30705579/|title=Constitution Party meets possible presidential nominee|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=July 27, 2015}}</ref> An [[African-American]] candidate, Terrell Mendenhall of Cullen, south of Springhill, polled 915 ballots (8 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> ​

Doerge easily retained her seat in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2007. She received 6,681 votes (57 percent) to 4,133 (35 percent) for [[Ronnie Broughton]] of Minden, the then president of the Webster Parish School Board and a Republican who later left that party to become the state chairman of the [[Constitution Party]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/07/26/constitution-party-meets-possible-presidential-nominee/30705579/|title=Constitution Party meets possible presidential nominee|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=July 27, 2015}}</ref> An [[African-American]] candidate, Terrell Mendenhall of Cullen, south of Springhill, polled 915 ballots (8 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> ​

 

Broughton had committed to the victorious Republican gubernatorial candidate [[Bobby Jindal]], but Doerge had proclaimed her neutrality in the governor's race in which her former legislative colleague, Foster Lonnie Campbell, was also a candidate. Broughton questioned why Louisiana Highway 371 remains a two-lane road. He had promised if elected to "bring transportation dollars home to our area." Broughton also proclaimed himself a[[ pro-life]] candidate: "Life starts at conception, marriage is between a man and woman, and the [[Second Amendment]] should be protected and held sacred."​

Broughton had committed to the victorious Republican gubernatorial candidate [[Bobby Jindal]], but Doerge had proclaimed her neutrality in the governor's race in which her former legislative colleague, Foster Lonnie Campbell, was also a candidate. Broughton questioned why Louisiana Highway 371 remains a two-lane road. He had promised if elected to "bring transportation dollars home to our area." Broughton also proclaimed himself a[[ pro-life]] candidate: "Life starts at conception, marriage is between a man and woman, and the [[Second Amendment]] should be protected and held sacred."​

​

​