Changes

==Legislative election, 2007==

==Legislative election, 2007==

Nowlin, with the pledge of "A Time for Reform",  won a stunning victory in District 23 (then Natchitoches and Winn parishes but since altered) on November 17, 2007, over the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Joe Sampite'|Joseph Michael "Joe" Sampite']], who served as the mayor of  Natchitoches from 1980 to 2000. Sampite is also an inductee into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.<ref>[http://www.cityofwinnfield.com/museum.html Winnfield, La - Old L&A Depot, LA Political Museum<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Nowlin polled 4,609 votes (55 percent) in the general election to Sampite's 3,766 (45 percent)<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref>  

Nowlin, with the pledge of "A Time for Reform",  won a stunning victory in District 23 (then Natchitoches and Winn parishes but since altered) on November 17, 2007, over the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Joe Sampite'|Joseph Michael "Joe" Sampite']], who served as the mayor of  Natchitoches from 1980 to 2000. Sampite' was inducted into the [[Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame]] in Winnfield.<ref>[http://www.cityofwinnfield.com/museum.html Winnfield, La - Old L&A Depot, LA Political Museum<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Nowlin polled 4,609 votes (55 percent) in the general election to Sampite's 3,766 (45 percent)<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref>  

In the primary on October 20, 2007, Nowlin led a four-candidate field with 4,849 votes (35 percent) to Sampite's 4,598 (33 percent). Two other Democrats, Ralph Wilson and Mack James, polled, 2,847 (21 percent) and 1,459 (11 percent), respectively.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> Hence, Nowlin and Sampite were thrust into the runoff, called the general election in Louisiana even if both candidates are from the same party.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 19, 2007.</ref> Nowlin succeeded Representative [[Taylor Townsend]] of Natchitoches, a Democrat who gave up the House seat after two terms to run unsuccessfully against Gerald Long for the state Senate. Townsend is a nephew and law partner of former state Senator Donald Gene Kelly of Natchitoches.

In the primary on October 20, 2007, Nowlin led a four-candidate field with 4,849 votes (35 percent) to Sampite's 4,598 (33 percent). Two other Democrats, Ralph Wilson and Mack James, polled, 2,847 (21 percent) and 1,459 (11 percent), respectively.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> Hence, Nowlin and Sampite were thrust into the runoff, called the general election in Louisiana even if both candidates are from the same party.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 19, 2007.</ref> Nowlin succeeded Representative [[Taylor Townsend]] of Natchitoches, a Democrat who gave up the House seat after two terms to run unsuccessfully against Gerald Long for the state Senate. Townsend is a nephew and law partner of former state Senator [[Don Kelly|Donald Gene Kelly]] of Natchitoches.

==Personal and civic life==

==Personal and civic life==