Changes

McConnell was engaged in a law practice in Springhill with Roy Morris Fish. Johnnie Souter McMahen (1930-2012), the wife of subsequent Sheriff [[Royce L. McMahen]], was their legal clerk. From 1974 to 1992, Mrs. McMahen was the Springhill city clerk.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=McMahen&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1168&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=94968818&df=all&|title=Johnnie Souter McMahen|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=August 7, 2012|accessdate=July 21, 2020}}</ref> He was also in partnership with John Bernard Slattery, Jr. (1955-2020), in the firm McConnell & Slattery. Prior to becoming the Springhill city judge, Slattery was the city attorney for Springhill and the nearby communities of Cullen, Sarepta, Shongaloo, and Cotton Valley.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://press-herald.com/hon-john-bernard-slattery-jr/|title=Hon. John Bernard Slattery, Jr.|author=Will Phillips|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|date=July 17, 2020|accessdate=July 21, 2020}}</ref>   

McConnell was engaged in a law practice in Springhill with Roy Morris Fish. Johnnie Souter McMahen (1930-2012), the wife of subsequent Sheriff [[Royce L. McMahen]], was their legal clerk. From 1974 to 1992, Mrs. McMahen was the Springhill city clerk.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=McMahen&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1168&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=94968818&df=all&|title=Johnnie Souter McMahen|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=August 7, 2012|accessdate=July 21, 2020}}</ref> He was also in partnership with John Bernard Slattery, Jr. (1955-2020), in the firm McConnell & Slattery. Prior to becoming the Springhill city judge, Slattery was the city attorney for Springhill and the nearby communities of Cullen, Sarepta, Shongaloo, and Cotton Valley.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://press-herald.com/hon-john-bernard-slattery-jr/|title=Hon. John Bernard Slattery, Jr.|author=Will Phillips|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|date=July 17, 2020|accessdate=July 21, 2020}}</ref>   

In 1967 and 1971, McConnell waged losing campaigns for what is now the District 10 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives, having been defeated by fellow Democrats Parey Pershing Branton, Sr. (1918-2011) of Shongaloo and Richard Harmon Drew, Sr. (1917-1995) of Minden, respectively. In the first campaign, McConnell vowed if elected to "represent all equally" and to seek the "advancement of constituents without compromising ideals and principles."<ref name=mcconnell/>

In 1967 and 1971, McConnell waged losing campaigns for what is now the District 10 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives, having been defeated, respectively, by fellow Democrats [[Parey Branton]] of Shongaloo and [[R. Harmon Drew, Sr.]], of Minden. In the first campaign, McConnell vowed if elected to "represent all equally" and to seek the "advancement of constituents without compromising ideals and principles."<ref name=mcconnell/>

In the Democratic primary held on November 4, 1967, McConnell finished in third place with 4,598 votes, behind Branton, also a former member of the Webster Parish School Board, who polled 6,127 votes. Two other candidates trailed McConnell and Branton in the primary, Minden attorney Henry Grady Hobbs (1923-2012), a native of nearby Sarepta,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=henry-hobbs&pid=162069317#fbLoggedOut|title=Henry Hobbs obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times'', January 2, 2013|accessdate=January 3, 2013}}</ref> who had lost the seat by sixteen votes to Branton in 1960, and James William "Tinker" Volentine (1915-1982), a Minden small [[business]]man and a native of Bienville Parish.<ref>"J. W. Volentine Enters Race for Representative Position," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' July 19, 1967, p. 1.</ref>​

In the Democratic primary held on November 4, 1967, McConnell finished in third place with 4,598 votes, behind Branton, also a former member of the Webster Parish School Board, who polled 6,127 votes. Two other candidates trailed McConnell and Branton in the primary, Minden attorney Henry Grady Hobbs (1923-2012), a native of nearby Sarepta,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=henry-hobbs&pid=162069317#fbLoggedOut|title=Henry Hobbs obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times'', January 2, 2013|accessdate=January 3, 2013}}</ref> who had lost the seat by sixteen votes to Branton in 1960, and James William "Tinker" Volentine (1915-1982), a Minden small [[business]]man and a native of Bienville Parish.<ref>"J. W. Volentine Enters Race for Representative Position," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' July 19, 1967, p. 1.</ref>​