Changes

In the Democratic primary held on November 4, 1967, McConnell finished in third place with 4,598 votes, behind Branton, also a former member of the Webster Parish School Board, who polled 6,127 votes. Two other candidates trailed McConnell and Branton in the primary, Minden attorney Henry Grady Hobbs (1923-2012), a native of nearby Sarepta,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=henry-hobbs&pid=162069317#fbLoggedOut|title=Henry Hobbs obituary|publisher=''Shreveport Times'', January 2, 2013|accessdate=January 3, 2013}}</ref> who had lost the seat by sixteen votes to Branton in 1960, and James William "Tinker" Volentine (1915-1982), a Minden small [[business]]man and a native of Bienville Parish.<ref>"J. W. Volentine Enters Race for Representative Position", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 19, 1967, p. 1.</ref>​

In the Democratic primary held on November 4, 1967, McConnell finished in third place with 4,598 votes, behind Branton, also a former member of the Webster Parish School Board, who polled 6,127 votes. Two other candidates trailed McConnell and Branton in the primary, Minden attorney Henry Grady Hobbs (1923-2012), a native of nearby Sarepta,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=henry-hobbs&pid=162069317#fbLoggedOut|title=Henry Hobbs obituary|publisher=''Shreveport Times'', January 2, 2013|accessdate=January 3, 2013}}</ref> who had lost the seat by sixteen votes to Branton in 1960, and James William "Tinker" Volentine (1915-1982), a Minden small [[business]]man and a native of Bienville Parish.<ref>"J. W. Volentine Enters Race for Representative Position", ''Minden Press-Herald'', July 19, 1967, p. 1.</ref>​

The other seat at stake was won outright in the primary with 6,904 votes by [[John Sidney Garrett]] of Haynesville, who thereafter was tapped by [[Governor]] [[John J. McKeithen]] as the new Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives..<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', November 6, 1967, p. 1.</ref> In the Democratic runoff primary held on December 16, 1967, Garrett remained neutral, and Branton prevailed 7,619 votes (52.6 percent) to McConnell's 6,857 (47.4 percent).<ref>"Branch, Branton, Jack Montgomery Win", ''Minden Press-Herald'', December 18, 1967, p. 1.</ref>​

The other seat at stake was won outright in the primary with 6,904 votes by [[John Sidney Garrett]] of Haynesville, who thereafter was tapped by [[Governor]] [[John J. McKeithen]] as the new Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', November 6, 1967, p. 1.</ref> In the Democratic runoff primary held on December 16, 1967, Garrett remained neutral, and Branton prevailed 7,619 votes (52.6 percent) to McConnell's 6,857 (47.4 percent).<ref>"Branch, Branton, Jack Montgomery Win", ''Minden Press-Herald'', December 18, 1967, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1971, McConnell sought the legislative seat which Branton vacated to run unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor to succeed Clarence C. "Taddy" Aycock of Franklin in St. Mary Parish, who ran instead for governor. This time, the senior Harmon Drew led in the primary balloting with 3,026 votes (25.2 percent). McConnell trailed in second place with 2,916 ballots (24.3 percent). In third place was the Minden educator Ralph Lamar Rentz, Sr. (1930-1995), who polled 2,739 votes (22.8 percent). Rentz proposed that Webster Parish establish a two-year educational program past the twelfth grade of high school to assist students seeking four-year college degrees, a reform implemented in Bossier Parish in 1967 which eventually became Bossier Parish Community College. And a community technical college opened years later in Minden. The businessman Houston Morris finished in fourth place in the legislative contest with 2,101 votes (17.5 percent). Two other candidates, including the late Minden businessman N. J. Cone, Jr., split the remaining 1,216 votes (10.1 percent).<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', November 9, 1971, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1971, McConnell sought the legislative seat which Branton vacated to run unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor to succeed Clarence C. "Taddy" Aycock of Franklin in St. Mary Parish, who ran instead for governor. This time, the senior Harmon Drew led in the primary balloting with 3,026 votes (25.2 percent). McConnell trailed in second place with 2,916 ballots (24.3 percent). In third place was the Minden educator Ralph Lamar Rentz, Sr. (1930-1995), who polled 2,739 votes (22.8 percent). Rentz proposed that Webster Parish establish a two-year educational program past the twelfth grade of high school to assist students seeking four-year college degrees, a reform implemented in Bossier Parish in 1967 which eventually became Bossier Parish Community College. And a community technical college opened years later in Minden. The businessman Houston Morris finished in fourth place in the legislative contest with 2,101 votes (17.5 percent). Two other candidates, including the late Minden businessman N. J. Cone, Jr., split the remaining 1,216 votes (10.1 percent).<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', November 9, 1971, p. 1.</ref>​