Changes

==Legislative election==

==Legislative election==

In 1975, in the first-ever Louisiana nonpartisan blanket primary, Scott was elected to the District 26 House seat, which primarily covers the city of Alexandria and some surrounding points. He succeeded fellow Democrat Edward Gordon "Ned" Randolph, Jr.] (1942-2016), who gave up the position after a single term to contest, successfully, a Louisiana Senate seat in the same election cycle. Scott defeated  Lloyd George Teekell, later a 9th Judicial District judge who had served earlier in the state House from 1953 to 1960. Scott polled 3,908 votes (54.7 percent) to Teekell's 3,233 ballots (45.3 percent). Randolph, meanwhile, unseated four-term Democratic State Senator [[Cecil R. Blair]] of Lecompte in south Rapides Parish.[4]

In 1975, in the first-ever Louisiana nonpartisan blanket primary, Scott was elected to the District 26 House seat, which primarily covers the city of Alexandria and some surrounding points. He succeeded fellow Democrat Edward Gordon "Ned" Randolph, Jr. (1942-2016), who gave up the position after a single term to contest, successfully, a Louisiana Senate seat in the same election cycle. Scott defeated  Lloyd George Teekell, later a 9th Judicial District judge who had served earlier in the state House from 1953 to 1960. Scott polled 3,908 votes (54.7 percent) to Teekell's 3,233 ballots (45.3 percent). Randolph, meanwhile, unseated four-term Democratic State Senator [[Cecil R. Blair]] of Lecompte in south Rapides Parish.[4]

Randolph, five years Scott's senior, was also a Bolton High school graduate and an attorney. Randolph and Scott quickly acquired reputations as "reformers" or "Young Turks" in the Louisiana legislature. They often disagreed with legislative leaders who wanted more spending than the state's receipts would permit. In 1976, Randolph and Scott headed the Greater Alexandria campaign for Democratic presidential nominee[[ Jimmy Carter]] of [[Georgia]], who won majorities in Rapides Parish (54 percent) and statewide (53 percent) as well.

Randolph, five years Scott's senior, was also a Bolton High school graduate and an attorney. Randolph and Scott quickly acquired reputations as "reformers" or "Young Turks" in the Louisiana legislature. They often disagreed with legislative leaders who wanted more spending than the state's receipts would permit. In 1976, Randolph and Scott headed the Greater Alexandria campaign for Democratic presidential nominee [[Jimmy Carter]] of [[Georgia]], who won majorities in Rapides Parish (54 percent) and statewide (53 percent) as well.

Though a Carter supporter, Scott broke with the presidential candidate over the proposed [[Equal Rights Amendment]]. He cast a key vote in 1976 in the House Civil Law Committee against the ERA. He had been expected to vote to send ERA to the full House but reversed himself. His reason was concern that women would be subject to future military conscription.

Though a Carter supporter, Scott broke with the presidential candidate over the proposed [[Equal Rights Amendment]]. He cast a key vote in 1976 in the House Civil Law Committee against the ERA. He had been expected to vote to send ERA to the full House but reversed himself. His reason was concern that women would be subject to future military conscription.

==First congressional defeat==

==First congressional defeat==

Early in 1985, while he was still a Democrat, Jock Scott ran in the special election to choose a successor to Congressman [[Gillis Long]], who died at the time of President [[Ronald W. Reagan]]'s second inauguration. Scott faced Long's widow, the former Catherine "Cathy" Small, a native of [[Dayton]], [[Ohio]], and Clyde Cecil Holloway (1943-2016), a conservative Republican who operated a tree nursery in Forest Hill south of Alexandria. Holloway had strongly opposed Judge Scott's desegregation orders and was making his second bid for Congress. Mrs. Long won the position outright with 61,791 votes (55.7 percent) to Scott's 27,138 ballots (24.5 percent), and Holloway's 18,013 votes (16.3 percent).[10] Cathy Long did not seek a full term in 1986. Scott, by then a Republican, was personally asked in the White House by President Reagan to seek the office. For undisclosed reasons, Scott declined to run. Holloway then went on to take the seat for the first of three consecutive terms from 1987-1993.

Early in 1985, while he was still a Democrat, Jock Scott ran in the special election to choose a successor to Congressman [[Gillis Long]], who died at the time of President [[Ronald W. Reagan]]'s second inauguration. Scott faced Long's widow, the former Catherine "Cathy" Small, a native of [[Dayton]], [[Ohio]], and Clyde Cecil Holloway (1943-2016), a conservative Republican who operated a tree nursery in Forest Hill south of Alexandria. Holloway had strongly opposed Judge Scott's desegregation orders and was making his second bid for Congress. Mrs. Long won the position outright with 61,791 votes (55.7 percent) to Scott's 27,138 ballots (24.5 percent), and Holloway's 18,013 votes (16.3 percent).[10] Cathy Long did not seek a full term in 1986. Scott, by then a Republican, was personally asked in the White House by President Reagan to seek the office. For undisclosed reasons, Scott declined to run. Holloway then went on to take the seat for the first of three consecutive terms from 1987–1993.

Scott's third term in the Louisiana House featured more battles over fiscal and tax policy against Governor Edwards. He had authored two successful tax reduction measures under the Treen administration, including the indexing of [[inflation]] of state income taxes, something Reagan had promoted at the national level, and a measure that reduced state income taxes by one-third across the board.

Scott's third term in the Louisiana House featured more battles over fiscal and tax policy against Governor Edwards. He had authored two successful tax reduction measures under the Treen administration, including the indexing of [[inflation]] of state income taxes, something Reagan had promoted at the national level, and a measure that reduced state income taxes by one-third across the board.

==Running for state senator==

==Running for state senator==

The "reformer" Scott became a Republican in the latter half of 1985. So did a colleague from [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], [[John C. Ensminger]]. Scott would have run for governor in 1987 had he, rather than U.S. Representative [[Bob Livingston]] of Louisiana's 1st congressional district received the official endorsement that year of the state GOP. [11]

The "reformer" Scott became a Republican in the latter half of 1985. So did a colleague from [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], [[John C. Ensminger]]. Scott would have run for governor in 1987 had he, rather than U.S. Representative [[Bob Livingston]] of Louisiana's 1st congressional district received the official endorsement that year of the state GOP. [11]

In 1987, Scott instead ran for the District 29 state senate seat previously held by his colleague, Ned Randolph, who had since become mayor of Alexandria. It was [[Ed Steimel]], the founding president of the Baton Rouge-based trade association, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, or LABI, who urged Scott to make the senatorial race. Like Randolph four years earlier, however, Scott was defeated by the Democrat [[Joe McPherson|William Joseph "Joe" McPherson, Jr.]], who had the backing of [[AFL-CIO]] President [[Victor Bussie]]. McPherson polled 16,950 (51 percent) in the primary and hence retained the seat outright. Scott trailed with 12,346 votes (37 percent). Former state senator [[Cecil R. Blair]] sought a comeback but netted only 4,245 votes (13 percent). [12]

In 1987, Scott instead ran for the District 29 state senate seat previously held by his colleague, Ned Randolph, who had since become mayor of Alexandria. It was [[Ed Steimel]], the founding president of the Baton Rouge-based trade association, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, or LABI, who urged Scott to make the senatorial race. Like Randolph four years earlier, however, Scott was defeated by the Democrat [[Joe McPherson|William Joseph "Joe" McPherson, Jr.]], who had the backing of [[AFL-CIO]] President [[Victor Bussie]]. McPherson polled 16,950 (51 percent) in the primary and hence retained the seat outright. Scott trailed with 12,346 votes (37 percent). Former state senator [[Cecil R. Blair]] sought a comeback but netted only 4,245 votes (13 percent). [12]

While McPherson has defeated both Randolph and Scott, the one Republican who has defeated McPherson is Holloway, who beat him in the 1990 congressional primary and again in the 2009 special election for the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Until 2009, the 1990 congressional election has been Holloway's last victory.

While McPherson has defeated both Randolph and Scott, the one Republican who has defeated McPherson is Holloway, who beat him in the 1990 congressional primary and again in the 2009 special election for the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Until 2009, the 1990 congressional election has been Holloway's last victory.

In 1996, a Republican, [[Randy Wiggins]], became the first member of his party elected in Rapides Parish to serve in the state House based in Pineville Wiggins subsequently ran unsuccessfully for state senator in 1999 against McPherson and 2019 against Democrat Jay Luneau. He also opposed the reelection of state Representatve [[Chris Hazel]] in 2011.

In 1996, a Republican, [[Randy Wiggins]], became the first member of his party elected in Rapides Parish to serve in the state House based in Pineville Wiggins subsequently ran unsuccessfully for state senator in 1999 against McPherson and 2019 against Democrat Jay Luneau. He also opposed the reelection of state Representative [[Chris Hazel]] in 2011.

==Family tragedy==

==Family tragedy==