Changes

===As state representative===

===As state representative===

On November 7, 1978, Bolin ran in the [[special election]] for the District 10 seat in the Louisiana House vacated by Richard Harmon Drew, Sr. (1917-1995). A former Minden city judge, Drew was again elected to that post in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on September 16 and had therefore resigned his House seat. Bolin led the balloting over three opponents, including Achillea Gust "Ike" Kirkikis (1926–2004), a [[Greece|Greek]]-[[United States|American]] [[business]]man from Minden who also served for four terms on the Webster Parish Police Jury, the parish governing council, was a past president of the Minden Beautification Council, and owned until 1981 Economy Butane and Propane Company.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 18, 1978, p. 1.</ref> Also in the race were outgoing Minden[[ Mayor]] [[J. E. "Pat" Patterson]] and forester William H. "Bill" Zachry, Jr. (born June 10, 1943), the most politically [[conservative]] of the four candidates. Bolin led the field, with 5,580 votes (47.2 percent) to Kirkikis's 2,789 (23.6 percent), Patterson's 2,687 (22.7 percent), and Zachry's 773 (6.5 percent). Patterson's son, Ricky Patterson (1951–1978),<ref name=ssdi/> was shot to death on November 6, election-eve.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 7–8, 1978.</ref>

On November 7, 1978, Bolin ran in the [[special election]] for the District 10 seat in the Louisiana House vacated by Richard Harmon Drew, Sr. (1917-1995). A former Minden city judge, Drew was again elected to that post in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on September 16 and had therefore resigned his House seat. Bolin led the balloting over three opponents, including Achillea Gust "Ike" Kirkikis (1926–2004), a [[Greece|Greek]]-[[United States|American]] [[business]]man from Minden who also served for four terms on the Webster Parish Police Jury, the parish governing council, was a past president of the Minden Beautification Council, and owned until 1981 Economy Butane and Propane Company.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 18, 1978, p. 1.</ref> Also in the race were outgoing Minden[[ Mayor]] [[J. E. "Pat" Patterson]] and forester William H. "Bill" Zachry, Jr. (born June 10, 1943), the most politically [[conservative]] of the four candidates. Bolin led the field, with 5,580 votes (47.2 percent) to Kirkikis's 2,789 (23.6 percent), Patterson's 2,687 (22.7 percent), and Zachry's 773 (6.5 percent). Patterson's son, Ricky Patterson (1951–1978), was shot to death on November 6, election-eve.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 7–8, 1978.</ref>

In the runoff held on December 16, Bolin prevailed, 2,698 (59.5 percent) to Kirkikis' 1,833 (40.5 percent). He hence took office on January 1, 1979, for the fifteen months remaining in Drew's unexpired term.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 17, 1978.</ref>​

In the runoff held on December 16, Bolin prevailed, 2,698 (59.5 percent) to Kirkikis' 1,833 (40.5 percent). He hence took office on January 1, 1979, for the fifteen months remaining in Drew's unexpired term.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 17, 1978.</ref>​

In 1988, Representative Bolin applauded Governor Buddy Roemer's early reform efforts: "the state can't be everything to everybody, and the new budget reflects that." Bolin also correctly predicted that Roemer would in time run for president, but that did not happen for another twenty-four years. Bolin said that Roemer "needs no political baggage" and that Louisiana "must be viewed as a progressive state" for Romer to accomplish  the goal of becoming president.<ref>"Bolin: Roemer's aspiration can only help state,'" ''Minden Press-Herald,'' May 17, 1988, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1988, Representative Bolin applauded Governor Buddy Roemer's early reform efforts: "the state can't be everything to everybody, and the new budget reflects that." Bolin also correctly predicted that Roemer would in time run for president, but that did not happen for another twenty-four years. Bolin said that Roemer "needs no political baggage" and that Louisiana "must be viewed as a progressive state" for Romer to accomplish  the goal of becoming president.<ref>"Bolin: Roemer's aspiration can only help state,'" ''Minden Press-Herald,'' May 17, 1988, p. 1.</ref>​

In September 1984, Bolin ran for the office of Bossier-Webster Parish District Attorney,<ref>"Bolin is candidate for district attorney," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' July 12, 1984, p. 3.</ref> but he lost by 122 votes to the incumbent and fellow Democrat Henry Newton Brown, Jr., of [[Bossier City]]. The tally was 16,447 for Brown to 16,326 for Bolin.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', October 2, 1984, p. 1</ref> Bolin carried forty-one of the forty-eight precincts in Webster Parish but only two in Bossier Parish.<ref>"Bolin not ready to concede," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 1, 1984, p. 1.</ref> In that campaign, Bolin accused Brown of having dropped 230 charges against suspects, including some who were accused of [[murder]], [[rape]], [[narcotics]] violations, and driving while intoxicated.<ref>Bolin advertisement, ''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 12, 1984, p. 1B.</ref> Later during the decade [[CBS]]'s ''[[60 Minutes]]'' ran a story on Brown stressing the district attorney's aggressive prosecution of murder suspects.<ref>"Brown: 'People Should Pay for What They Do!,'" ''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 25, 1989, p. 1.</ref>

In September 1984, Bolin ran for the office of Bossier-Webster Parish District Attorney,<ref>"Bolin is candidate for district attorney," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' July 12, 1984, p. 3.</ref> but he lost by 122 votes to the incumbent and fellow Democrat Henry Newton Brown, Jr., of [[Bossier City]]. The tally was 16,447 for Brown to 16,326 for Bolin.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', October 2, 1984, p. 1</ref> Bolin carried forty-one of the forty-eight precincts in Webster Parish but only two in Bossier Parish.<ref>"Bolin not ready to concede," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 1, 1984, p. 1.</ref> In that campaign, Bolin accused Brown of having dropped 230 charges against suspects, including some who were accused of [[murder]], [[rape]], [[narcotics]] violations, and driving while intoxicated.<ref>Bolin advertisement, ''Minden Press-Herald,'' September 12, 1984, p. 1B.</ref> Later during the decade [[CBS]]'s ''[[60 Minutes]]'' ran a story on Brown stressing the district attorney's aggressive prosecution of murder suspects.<ref>"Brown: 'People Should Pay for What They Do!,'" ''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 25, 1989, p. 1.</ref>

Bolin was elected judge of the 26th Judicial District court in 1990, when his runoff opponent, Randy Rowe of Bossier City, withdrew from the contest.<ref>"Bolin winner in 26th Judicial District Court race; Runoff opponent withdraws from race," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 17, 1990, p. 1.</ref> However, there was a delay in certification of Bolin as the winner of the election because of a challenge waged by advocates of single-member districts for judges, a practice which the [[United States Supreme Court]] has ruled is not required under the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]].<ref>"Louisiana election headed for Supreme Court; Bolin's 26th Judicial District judgeship affected by challenge," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 19, 1990, p. 1.</ref>​

Bolin was elected judge of the 26th Judicial District court in 1990, when his runoff opponent, Randy Rowe of Bossier City, withdrew from the contest.<ref>"Bolin winner in 26th Judicial District Court race; Runoff opponent withdraws from race," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 17, 1990, p. 1.</ref> However, there was a delay in certification of Bolin as the winner of the election because of a challenge waged by advocates of single-member districts for judges, a practice which the [[United States Supreme Court]] has ruled is not required under the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]].<ref>"Louisiana election headed for Supreme Court; Bolin's 26th Judicial District judgeship affected by challenge," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 19, 1990, p. 1.</ref>​