Changes

The District 41 legislative seat opened in 1995 when the Democratic Representative, [[Dale Sittig]], also from Eunice, ran successfully for an unexpired term on the Louisiana Public Service Commission. In the October 21 primary, Fruge led the Democrat Karl Rene DeRouen, II (born December 1962), of Eunice, 6,119 votes (42.1  percent) to 4,389 (30.2 percent). The remaining 28 percent, critical to the [[general election]] outcome, was shared by three other Democratic contenders.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref> In the  November 18 general election, Fruge prevailed with 8,341 votes (54.1 percent) to DeRouen’s 7,084 (48.9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 18, 1995.</ref>​

The District 41 legislative seat opened in 1995 when the Democratic Representative, [[Dale Sittig]], also from Eunice, ran successfully for an unexpired term on the Louisiana Public Service Commission. In the October 21 primary, Fruge led the Democrat Karl Rene DeRouen, II (born December 1962), of Eunice, 6,119 votes (42.1  percent) to 4,389 (30.2 percent). The remaining 28 percent, critical to the [[general election]] outcome, was shared by three other Democratic contenders.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref> In the  November 18 general election, Fruge prevailed with 8,341 votes (54.1 percent) to DeRouen’s 7,084 (48.9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 18, 1995.</ref>​

In 1999, Representative Fruge was elected sergeant-at-arms of the otherwise all-Democratic  Louisiana Rural Caucus, an organization formed in 1979 to promote awareness of [[rural]] issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.legis.state.la.us/pubinfo/Press_Releases/rural_caucus.htm|title=Rural Caucus officers|publisher=house.legis.state.la.us|date=1999|accessdate=January 6, 2020}}</ref> To win his second term in 1999, Fruge defeated the Democrat Glen Anthony Bihm (born November 1957) of Eunice, 7,524 (58.2 percent) to 5,400 (41.8 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns,  October 23, 1999.</ref>​

In 1999, Representative Fruge was elected sergeant-at-arms of the otherwise all-Democratic  Louisiana Rural Caucus, an organization formed in 1979 to promote awareness of [[rural]] issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.legis.state.la.us/pubinfo/Press_Releases/rural_caucus.htm|title=Rural Caucus officers|publisher=house.legis.state.la.us|date=April 8, 1999|accessdate=January 6, 2020}}</ref> To win his second term in 1999, Fruge defeated the Democrat Glen Anthony Bihm (born November 1957) of Eunice, 7,524 (58.2 percent) to 5,400 (41.8 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns,  October 23, 1999.</ref>​

On October 4, 2003, Fruge, with 5,650 votes (41.6 percent), was toppled by the Democrat Mickey Guillory, a former state police officer and the Eunice city marshal, who received 7,938 ballots (58.2 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> Fruge was believed to have been damaged in his reelection bid when the chancellor of Louisiana State University at Eunice attended Guillory's announcement of candidacy. Guillory is an LSU-E alumnus.<ref>''Louisiana Politics'' column by John Maginnis, accessed October 1, 2009, link unavailable.</ref>

On October 4, 2003, Fruge, with 5,650 votes (41.6 percent), was toppled by the Democrat Mickey Guillory, a former state police officer and the Eunice city marshal, who received 7,938 ballots (58.2 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> Fruge was believed to have been damaged in his reelection bid when the chancellor of Louisiana State University at Eunice attended Guillory's announcement of candidacy. Guillory is an LSU-E alumnus.<ref>''Louisiana Politics'' column by John Maginnis, accessed October 1, 2009, link unavailable.</ref>