Changes

==Political life==

==Political life==

 

Kelly's nephew and law partner, Natchitoches attorney [[Taylor Townsend]], served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 2000 to 2008, having been defeated in a race for Kelly's former Senate seat in 2007 by Gerald Long of Natchitoches, the only member of the [[Huey Long|Long family]] thus far to have been elected as a Republican.  Long was term-limited in the seat in 2019 and will be succeeded by Republican [[Louie Bernard]]. Kelly is a brother of Townsend's mother, Dorothy Kelly Townsend. In the 1999 election for state representative, Townsend unseated Gerald Long's older brother, Jimmy Dale Long, Sr. (1931-2016), of Natchitoches.

Kelly's nephew and law partner, Natchitoches attorney [[Taylor Townsend]], served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 2000 to 2008, having been defeated in a race for Kelly's former Senate seat in 2007 by Gerald Long of Natchitoches, the only member of the [[Huey Long|Long family]] thus far to have been elected as a Republican.  Long was term-limited in the seat in 2019 and will be succeeded by Republican [[Louie Bernard]]. Kelly is a brother of Townsend's mother, Dorothy Kelly Townsend. In the 1999 election for state representative, Townsend unseated Gerald Long's older brother, Jimmy Dale Long, Sr. (1931-2016), of Natchitoches.

In the 1975 nonpartisan blanket primary, also known as the jungle primary, the first ever held in Louisiana in which all candidates regardless of party appear on the same primary ballot, Kelly upset freshman Senator [[Paul Foshee]], of Natchitoches. In Louisiana congressional, state and local  elections, the winner of the primary, or the runoff election (called the [[general election]] even if both finalists are of the same party designation), hence wins the office. In 1979, Kelly won a second term by defeating Foshee's 23-year-old son, Democrat George Barnes Foshee (1956–2000). In 1987, Foshee unsuccessfully challenged Kelly. In 1991, Kelly defeated 19-year-old Republican (later [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]] Randall Todd Hayes (born 1972) of Atlanta in Winn Parish, 29,410 votes (75.4 percent) to 9,599 (24.6 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 19, 1991.</ref>

In the 1975 nonpartisan blanket primary, also known as the jungle primary, the first ever held in Louisiana in which all candidates regardless of party appear on the same primary ballot, Kelly upset freshman Senator [[Paul Foshee]], of Natchitoches. In Louisiana congressional, state and local  elections, the winner of the primary, or the runoff election (called the [[general election]] even if both finalists are of the same party designation), hence wins the office. In 1979, Kelly won a second term by defeating Foshee's 23-year-old son, Democrat George Barnes Foshee (1956–2000). In 1987, Foshee unsuccessfully challenged Kelly. In 1991, Kelly defeated 19-year-old Republican (later [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]]) Randall Todd Hayes (born 1972) of Atlanta in Winn Parish, 29,410 votes (75.4 percent) to 9,599 (24.6 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 19, 1991.</ref>

In 1995, Kelly did not seek a sixth term and was succeeded by fellow Democrat [[Mike Smith (Louisiana Politician)|Kenneth Michael "Mike" Smith]] of Winnfield, the traditional home of the Longs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senate.la.gov/Documents/Membership/Documents/SenateMembership1880ForwardRevisedMar2011.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana Senate, 1880 - Present (Natchitoches Parish)|publisher=Louisiana State Senate|accessdate=December 7, 2019}}</ref>​

In 1995, Kelly did not seek a sixth term and was succeeded by fellow Democrat [[Mike Smith (Louisiana Politician)|Kenneth Michael "Mike" Smith]] of Winnfield, the traditional home of the Longs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senate.la.gov/Documents/Membership/Documents/SenateMembership1880ForwardRevisedMar2011.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana Senate, 1880 - Present (Natchitoches Parish)|publisher=Louisiana State Senate|accessdate=December 7, 2019}}</ref>​

In 1981, Governor Treen appointed Kelly to the board of the newly established Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts in Natchitoches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.la.us/boards/board_members.asp?board=369 Louisiana Boards and Commissions|title=Louisiana Boards and Commissions|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=December 7, 2011; no longer on-line}}</ref>

In 1981, Governor Treen appointed Kelly to the board of the newly established Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts in Natchitoches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.la.us/boards/board_members.asp?board=369 Louisiana Boards and Commissions|title=Louisiana Boards and Commissions|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=December 7, 2011; no longer on-line}}</ref>

In 2003, the Democrat Kelly contributed to the reelection campaign of [[Moderate Republican]] [[U.S. Representative]] James Otis "Jim" McCrery, III, whose then 4th congressional district includes Natchitoches Parish. In 2004, Kelly gave the maximum $2,000 permitted under federal law to the Democratic presidential nominee, [[U.S. Senator]] [[John Kerry]] of [[Massachusetts]], who was defeated by [[George W. Bush]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/elec/elec-NATCHITOCHES-LA.html|title=Natchitoches, LA Political Contributions by Individuals|publisher=city-data.com|accessdate=December 7, 2019}}</ref>

In 2003, the Democrat Kelly contributed to the reelection campaign of [[Moderate Republican]] [[U.S. Representative]] James Otis "Jim" McCrery, III, whose then 4th congressional district includes Natchitoches Parish. In 2004, Kelly gave the maximum $2,000 permitted under federal law to the Democratic presidential nominee, [[U.S. Senator]] [[John Kerry]] of [[Massachusetts]], who was defeated by [[George W. Bush]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/elec/elec-NATCHITOCHES-LA.html|title=Natchitoches, LA Political Contributions by Individuals|publisher=city-data.com|accessdate=December 7, 2019}}</ref>

On February 2, 2008, Kelly was among nine inductees, along with environmental journalist [[John LaPlante, Jr.]], and former Lieutenant Governor [[Robert Freeman]], into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield, located in Senate District 31. A previous state senator from Natchitoches Parish, [[Sylvan Friedman]], was posthumously inducted into the organization in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lapoliticalmuseum.com/inductees.php|title=Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame|publisher=Louisiana Political Museum|accessdate=December 7, 2019}}</ref>​

On February 2, 2008, Kelly was among nine inductees, along with environmental journalist [[John LaPlante, Jr.]], and former Lieutenant Governor [[Robert Freeman]], into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield, located in Senate District 31. A previous state senator from Natchitoches Parish, [[Sylvan Friedman]], was posthumously inducted into the organization in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lapoliticalmuseum.com/inductees.php|title=Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame|publisher=Louisiana Political Museum|accessdate=December 7, 2019}}</ref>​

==References==

==References==

{{reflist}}​

{{reflist}}​

 

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Don}}​

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Don}}​

[[Category:Louisiana People]]

[[Category:Louisiana People]]