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'''Rickey L. "Rick" Nowlin''' (born July 30, 1948) is an [[engineer]], [[business]]man, and [[politician]] who is the president of the government of [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches Parish]], [[Louisiana]].​

'''Rickey L. "Rick" Nowlin''' (born July 30, 1948) is an [[engineer]], [[business]]man, and [[politician]] who is the departing president of the government of [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches Parish]], [[Louisiana]].​

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A [[Republican Party|Republican]], Nowlin defeated the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Gerald "Jerry" Longlois in the nonpartisan blanket primary held for the new position on November 6, 2012. The election was held in conjunction with the U.S. presidential and congressional contests. Nowlin received 9,283 votes (59.2 percent) to Longlois'  6,393 (40.8 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 6, 2012.</ref>​ He was reelected in 2015 but did not seek a third term as parish president in the primary held on October 12, 2019. That office is now chosen in the same election as the [[governor]].

A [[Republican Party|Republican]], Nowlin defeated the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Gerald "Jerry" Longlois in the nonpartisan blanket primary held for the new position on November 6, 2012. The election was held in conjunction with the U.S. presidential and congressional contests. Nowlin received 9,283 votes (59.2 percent) to Longlois'  6,393 (40.8 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 6, 2012.</ref>​ He was reelected in 2015 but did not seek a third term as parish president in the primary held on October 12, 2019. That office is now chosen in the same election as the [[governor]].

Nowlin, with the pledge of "A Time for Reform",  won a stunning victory in District 23 (then Natchitoches and Winn parishes but since altered) on November 17, 2007, over the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Joe Sampite'|Joseph Michael "Joe" Sampite']], who served as the mayor of  Natchitoches from 1980 to 2000. Sampite is also an inductee into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.<ref>[http://www.cityofwinnfield.com/museum.html Winnfield, La - Old L&A Depot, LA Political Museum<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Nowlin polled 4,609 votes (55 percent) in the general election to Sampite's 3,766 (45 percent)<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref>  

Nowlin, with the pledge of "A Time for Reform",  won a stunning victory in District 23 (then Natchitoches and Winn parishes but since altered) on November 17, 2007, over the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Joe Sampite'|Joseph Michael "Joe" Sampite']], who served as the mayor of  Natchitoches from 1980 to 2000. Sampite is also an inductee into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.<ref>[http://www.cityofwinnfield.com/museum.html Winnfield, La - Old L&A Depot, LA Political Museum<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Nowlin polled 4,609 votes (55 percent) in the general election to Sampite's 3,766 (45 percent)<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref>  

In the primary on October 20, 2007, Nowlin led a four-candidate field with 4,849 votes (35 percent) to Sampite's 4,598 (33 percent). Two other Democrats, Ralph Wilson and Mack James, polled, 2,847 (21 percent) and 1,459 (11 percent), respectively.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> Hence, Nowlin and Sampite were thrust into the runoff, called the general election in Louisiana even if both candidates are from the same party.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref> Nowlin succeeded Representative [[Taylor Townsend]] of Natchitoches, a Democrat who gave up the House seat after two terms to run unsuccessfully against Gerald Long for the state Senate. Townsend is a nephew and law partner of former state Senator Donald Gene Kelly of Natchitoches.

In the primary on October 20, 2007, Nowlin led a four-candidate field with 4,849 votes (35 percent) to Sampite's 4,598 (33 percent). Two other Democrats, Ralph Wilson and Mack James, polled, 2,847 (21 percent) and 1,459 (11 percent), respectively.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> Hence, Nowlin and Sampite were thrust into the runoff, called the general election in Louisiana even if both candidates are from the same party.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 19, 2007.</ref> Nowlin succeeded Representative [[Taylor Townsend]] of Natchitoches, a Democrat who gave up the House seat after two terms to run unsuccessfully against Gerald Long for the state Senate. Townsend is a nephew and law partner of former state Senator Donald Gene Kelly of Natchitoches.

==Personal and civic life==

==Personal and civic life==

==The 2011 legislative defeat==

==The 2011 legislative defeat==

District 23 became a majority African American district in the 2011 [[redistricting]] based upon the 2010 [[census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20111023/NEWS01/310230008/Hazel-re-elected-House-District-27-Harris-wins-House-District-25-seat|title=Hazel re-elected in House Distrrict 27; Harris wins House District 25|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk'', October 23, 2011|accessdate=October 24, 2011; no longer on-line}}</ref>

District 23 became a majority African American district in the 2011 [[redistricting]] based upon the 2010 [[census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20111023/NEWS01/310230008/Hazel-re-elected-House-District-27-Harris-wins-House-District-25-seat|title=Hazel re-elected in House Distrrict 27; Harris wins House District 25|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk'|date=October 23, 2011|accessdate=October 24, 2011; no longer on-line}}</ref>

In the general election held on November 19, 2011, Nowlin was unseated by the Democrat Kenny Ray Cox, a decorated retired lieutenant colonel in the [[United States Army]] from Mansfield in DeSoto Parish. Cox received 5,556 votes (53.4 percent) to Nowlin's 4,847 (46.6 percent). Nowlin won by some nine hundred votes in Natchitoches Parish but lost decisively in DeSoto and Red River parishes.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 19, 2011.</ref>

In the general election held on November 19, 2011, Nowlin was unseated by the Democrat Kenny Ray Cox, a decorated retired lieutenant colonel in the [[United States Army]] from Mansfield in DeSoto Parish. Cox received 5,556 votes (53.4 percent) to Nowlin's 4,847 (46.6 percent). Nowlin won by some nine hundred votes in Natchitoches Parish but lost decisively in DeSoto and Red River parishes.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 19, 2011.</ref>

In 2012, Nowlin was a Louisiana delegate to the [[Republican National Convention]] held in [[Tampa]], [[Florida]].

In 2012, Nowlin was a Louisiana delegate to the [[Republican National Convention]] held in [[Tampa]], [[Florida]].

As the Republican candidate in the November 6, 2012,  election for the newly established position of president of Natchitoches Parish, Nowlin handily defeated a Democratic opponent. He assumed his new position, along with five elected commissioners, in January 2013.

As the Republican candidate in the November 6, 2012,  election for the newly established position of president of Natchitoches Parish, Nowlin handily defeated a Democratic opponent. He assumed his new position, along with five elected commissioners, in January 2013. Nowlin did not seek a third term as parish president in the 2019 nonpartisan blanket primary.

==References==

==References==