Changes

Sittig was elected to the state House in a [[special election]] in 1983 created by the death of [[incumbent]] Democratic Representative Louis Dischler, Jr.  Sittig was elected to full terms thereafter in 1983, 1987, and 1991, having hence served from 1983-1995. In the fall of 1992, Sittig challenged fellow Democratic Public Safety Commissioner Thomas Elmer "Tommy" Powell, Sr. (1924-2005), of Eunice in the District IV race, but he but lost by 354 votes out of some 283,000 cast. Powell received 141,894 (50.06 percent) to Sittig’s 141,540 (49.94 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 3, 1992.</ref> Powell, a Eunice [[petroleum]] dealer allied with [[U.S. Senator]] [[Russell Long]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/elec2/elec-EUNICE-LA.html|title=Eunice, LA, Political Contributions by Individuals|publisher=city-data.com|accessdate=September 18, 2009}}</ref> was one of the original PSC members elected when the membership was enlarged in 1975 from three to five members.

Sittig was elected to the state House in a [[special election]] in 1983 created by the death of [[incumbent]] Democratic Representative Louis Dischler, Jr.  Sittig was elected to full terms thereafter in 1983, 1987, and 1991, having hence served from 1983-1995. In the fall of 1992, Sittig challenged fellow Democratic Public Safety Commissioner Thomas Elmer "Tommy" Powell, Sr. (1924-2005), of Eunice in the District IV race, but he but lost by 354 votes out of some 283,000 cast. Powell received 141,894 (50.06 percent) to Sittig’s 141,540 (49.94 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 3, 1992.</ref> Powell, a Eunice [[petroleum]] dealer allied with [[U.S. Senator]] [[Russell Long]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/elec2/elec-EUNICE-LA.html|title=Eunice, LA, Political Contributions by Individuals|publisher=city-data.com|accessdate=September 18, 2009}}</ref> was one of the original PSC members elected when the membership was enlarged in 1975 from three to five members.

Powell resigned from the commission midway in his last term, and Sittig won the 1995 special election to succeed him. In that contest, Sittig defeated state Senator  [[Joe McPherson]] of Rapides Parish in central Louisiana. Sittig led with 141,473 votes (52.8 percent) to McPherson’s 126,452 (47.2 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 19, 1995.</ref> In making the PSC race, McPherson forfeited his Senate seat, but he reclaimed it in the 1999 election by defeating [[Republican Party|Republican]] state Representative Randy E. Wiggins of  Rapides Parish. When Sittig joined the PSC, his House seat went Republican, with the election of Gregory L. Fruge, also of Eunice.

Powell resigned from the commission midway in his last term, and Sittig won the 1995 special election to succeed him. In that contest, Sittig defeated state Senator  [[Joe McPherson]] of Rapides Parish in central Louisiana. Sittig led with 141,473 votes (52.8 percent) to McPherson’s 126,452 (47.2 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 19, 1995.</ref> In making the PSC race, McPherson forfeited his Senate seat, but he reclaimed it in the 1999 election by defeating [[Republican Party|Republican]] state Representative [[Randy Wiggins]] of  Rapides Parish. When Sittig joined the PSC, his House seat went Republican, with the election of Gregory L. Fruge, also of Eunice.

In his 1998 race for a full six-year term, Sittig easily defeated the Republican candidate, Michael J. Muller, 92, 344 (77 percent) to  27,638 (23 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 3, 1998.</ref> In 2004, Sittig was unopposed for the second term on the PSC which he did not complete. ​During his PSC tenure,  Sittig used his influence to obtain lighting for the Bengal Stadium [[baseball]] field at Louisiana State University at Eunice. Beginning in 2007, LSUE teams could play at night for the first time since the establishment of the stadium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spud.lsue.edu/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=119&z=1|title=Lights Installed at LSUE Baseball Field|date=August 17, 2006|publisher=lsue.edu|accessdate=September 18, 2009}}</ref> He quarreled openly with a colleague, his fellow Democrat Foster Lonnie Campbell, Jr., of Bossier Parish over certain commission policies and procedures, particularly in reference to the Entergy Company. Campbell claimed that Sittig was more supportive of "special interests," than the "people's interest".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fostercampbell.com/press_sittig2007.html|title=Foster Campbell for Governor|publisher=fostercampbell.com|accessdate=September 18, 2009; no longer on-line}}</ref>

In his 1998 race for a full six-year term, Sittig easily defeated the Republican candidate, Michael J. Muller, 92, 344 (77 percent) to  27,638 (23 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 3, 1998.</ref> In 2004, Sittig was unopposed for the second term on the PSC which he did not complete. ​During his PSC tenure,  Sittig used his influence to obtain lighting for the Bengal Stadium [[baseball]] field at Louisiana State University at Eunice. Beginning in 2007, LSUE teams could play at night for the first time since the establishment of the stadium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spud.lsue.edu/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=119&z=1|title=Lights Installed at LSUE Baseball Field|date=August 17, 2006|publisher=lsue.edu|accessdate=September 18, 2009}}</ref> He quarreled openly with a colleague, his fellow Democrat Foster Lonnie Campbell, Jr., of Bossier Parish over certain commission policies and procedures, particularly in reference to the Entergy Company. Campbell claimed that Sittig was more supportive of "special interests," than the "people's interest".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fostercampbell.com/press_sittig2007.html|title=Foster Campbell for Governor|publisher=fostercampbell.com|accessdate=September 18, 2009; no longer on-line}}</ref>