As an ex-congressman, Long ran in the crowded 1971 Democratic gubernatorial primary. He hired James Kelly Nix, a former college professor from [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], to manage his field operations. Nix subsequently became the Louisiana school superintendent from 1976 to 1984, when the position was filled by election, instead of the subsequent appointment process.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lapoliticalmuseum.com/inductees.php?viewID=79|title=J. Kelly Nix|publisher=lapoliticalmuseum.com|accessdate=October 7, 2013}}</ref> | As an ex-congressman, Long ran in the crowded 1971 Democratic gubernatorial primary. He hired James Kelly Nix, a former college professor from [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], to manage his field operations. Nix subsequently became the Louisiana school superintendent from 1976 to 1984, when the position was filled by election, instead of the subsequent appointment process.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lapoliticalmuseum.com/inductees.php?viewID=79|title=J. Kelly Nix|publisher=lapoliticalmuseum.com|accessdate=October 7, 2013}}</ref> |