Changes

In 1979, Hardy ran for governor with the endorsement of former Governor [[John J.  McKeithen]] and won eighteen parishes in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]], but he missed securing a general election berth by 4 percentage points. Hardy finished in fourth place with 227,026 votes (16.6 percent). In a disputed third place was outgoing Lieutenant Governor [[Jimmy Fitzmorris]], of New Orleans, with 280,760 (20.6 percent). The general election would feature Republican [[U.S. Representative]] [[David C. Treen]] , then of Jefferson Parish in suburban New Orleans, who drew 297,674 primary votes (21.8 percent). Treen narrowly won the governorship against the remaining Democratic candidate, [[Louis Lambert]] of Ascension Parish, with 283,277 (20.7 percent). Hardy hence lost a general election slot by some 56,000 votes. Fitzmorris filed suit in the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge, but Judge Douglas Marion Gonzales, a Republican, ruled that Fitzmorris failed to provide evidence that enough fraudulent votes were cast for Lambert to impact the outcome of the second-place candidacy.​

In 1979, Hardy ran for governor with the endorsement of former Governor [[John J.  McKeithen]] and won eighteen parishes in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]], but he missed securing a general election berth by 4 percentage points. Hardy finished in fourth place with 227,026 votes (16.6 percent). In a disputed third place was outgoing Lieutenant Governor [[Jimmy Fitzmorris]], of New Orleans, with 280,760 (20.6 percent). The general election would feature Republican [[U.S. Representative]] [[David C. Treen]] , then of Jefferson Parish in suburban New Orleans, who drew 297,674 primary votes (21.8 percent). Treen narrowly won the governorship against the remaining Democratic candidate, [[Louis Lambert]] of Ascension Parish, with 283,277 (20.7 percent). Hardy hence lost a general election slot by some 56,000 votes. Fitzmorris filed suit in the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge, but Judge Douglas Marion Gonzales, a Republican, ruled that Fitzmorris failed to provide evidence that enough fraudulent votes were cast for Lambert to impact the outcome of the second-place candidacy.​

Though he was still then a Democrat, Hardy endorsed Treen over Lambert. In 1978, he had supported the Republican [[Jimmy Wilson]], a former state representative from Vivian for Louisiana's 4th congressional district seat in Congress, rather than the successful Democrat, Anthony Claude "Buddy" Leac, then of Leesville in Vernon Parish and later of Lake Charles. In 1976, Hardy endorsed then [[U.S. President]] [[Gerald Ford]] over [[Jimmy Carter]], the Democratic former governor  of [[Georgia]], who won Louisiana's then ten electoral votes.<ref>''The Shreveport Times,'' November 20, 1979, p. 1B.</ref>​

Though he was still then a Democrat, Hardy endorsed Treen over Lambert. In 1978, he had supported the Republican [[Jimmy Wilson]], a former state representative from Vivian for Louisiana's 4th congressional district seat in Congress, rather than the successful Democrat, Anthony Claude "Buddy" Leach, then of Leesville in Vernon Parish and later of Lake Charles. In 1976, Hardy endorsed then [[U.S. President]] [[Gerald Ford]] over [[Jimmy Carter]], the Democratic former governor  of [[Georgia]], who won Louisiana's then ten electoral votes.<ref>''The Shreveport Times,'' November 20, 1979, p. 1B.</ref>​

Thereafter, Treen, who narrowly defeated Lambert in the general election, appointed Hardy as Louisiana's secretary of transportation, serving with undersecretary [[Tom Colten]], the Republican former mayor of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]]. While there, he supervised the spending of a record $2 billion on highways.​<ref name=athlete/>

Thereafter, Treen, who narrowly defeated Lambert in the general election, appointed Hardy as Louisiana's secretary of transportation, serving with undersecretary [[Tom Colten]], the Republican former mayor of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]]. While there, he supervised the spending of a record $2 billion on highways.​<ref name=athlete/>