Changes

In 1991, Farrar unseated long-term Democratic incumbent Carl Newton Gunter, Jr. (1938-1999), of Deville in the eastern portion of the parish, 7,729 votes (57 percent) to Gunter's 5,929 (43 percent), exactly 1,800 votes.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 19, 1991.</ref> Gunter was tied to [[organized labor]] but also strongly [[pro-life]]. Gunter faced organized opposition from [[feminist]] groups who opposed his opposition against [[abortion]]. On October 21, 1995, Farrar was unseated by the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Randy Wiggins|Randy E. Wiggins]] of Pineville, a State Farm [[Insurance]] agent in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]. Wiggins received 6,350 votes (51.1 percent) to Farrar's 6,077 (48.9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref> Wiggins is the first Republican ever elected to the Louisiana House from Rapides Parish since the days of [[Reconstruction]].<ref>{{cite web|url=HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf (louisiana.gov), for Rapides Parish, accessed May 3, 2021.</ref>

In 1991, Farrar unseated long-term Democratic incumbent Carl Newton Gunter, Jr. (1938-1999), of Deville in the eastern portion of the parish, 7,729 votes (57 percent) to Gunter's 5,929 (43 percent), exactly 1,800 votes.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 19, 1991.</ref> Gunter was tied to [[organized labor]] but also strongly [[pro-life]]. Gunter faced organized opposition from [[feminist]] groups who opposed his opposition against [[abortion]]. On October 21, 1995, Farrar was unseated by the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Randy Wiggins|Randy E. Wiggins]] of Pineville, a State Farm [[Insurance]] agent in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]]. Wiggins received 6,350 votes (51.1 percent) to Farrar's 6,077 (48.9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref> Wiggins is the first Republican ever elected to the Louisiana House from Rapides Parish since the days of [[Reconstruction]].<ref>{{cite web|url=HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf (louisiana.gov), for Rapides Parish, accessed May 3, 2021.</ref>

In 1999, Farrar staged a comeback when Wiggins ran, not for reelection, but for the state Senate seat vacated by [[B. G. Dyess]], who retired after a single term. Wiggins narrowly lost to former Senator [[Joe McPherson]], a [[business]]man then from Pineville and later Woodworth. On October 23, 1999, in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]], Randall Bryan "Randy" Tannehill (born 1960), a Republican member of the Rapides Parish School Board also from Pineville, led Farrar, 4,442 (41.4 percent) to, 4,088 (38.1 percent). A third candidate, Democrat Pete Ferrington of Pineville, polled a critical 2,208 votes (20.6 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 23, 1999.</ref> In the ensuing [[general election]], Farrar topped Tannehill, the son of Fred L. Tannehill (born February 6, 1932), a former member of the Louisiana State Board of Education. Farrar led 4,318 (54.6 percent) to Tannehill’s 3,595 (45.4 percent). Because of low turnout in the second round of balloting, without a  [[Governor|gubernatorial]] contest, Farrar underpolled his primary totals by 124 votes; Tannehill, by 493 ballots.<ref>Louisiana Secetary of State, Election Returns,

In 1999, Farrar staged a comeback when Wiggins ran, not for reelection, but for the state Senate seat vacated by [[B. G. Dyess]], who retired after a single term. Wiggins narrowly lost to former Senator [[Joe McPherson]], a [[business]]man then from Pineville and later Woodworth. On October 23, 1999, in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]], Randall Bryan "Randy" Tannehill (born 1960), a Republican member of the Rapides Parish School Board also from Pineville, led Farrar, 4,442 (41.4 percent) to, 4,088 (38.1 percent). A third candidate, Democrat Pete Ferrington of Pineville, polled a critical 2,208 votes (20.6 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 23, 1999.</ref> In the ensuing [[general election]], Farrar topped Tannehill, the son of Fred L. Tannehill (born February 6, 1932), a former member of the Louisiana State Board of Education. Farrar led 4,318 (54.6 percent) to Tannehill’s 3,595 (45.4 percent). Because of low turnout in the second round of balloting, without a  [[Governor|gubernatorial]] contest, Farrar underpolled his primary totals by 124 votes; Tannehill, by 493 ballots.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns,

November 20, 1999.</ref>

November 20, 1999.</ref>

In 2003, Farrar won again, 7,072 votes (61 percent) to Pete Ferrington’s 4,519 (39 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> In 2005, Farrar was listed as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee under chairman [[Bryant Hammett|Bryant O. Hammett, Jr.]], of Ferriday in Concordia Parish in eastern Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hopenetworks.org/la_tax_2005/waymeans.html|title=2005 Louisiana House Mays and Means Committee|publisher=hopenetworks.org|accessdate=September 19, 2009}}</ref> In 2006, Farrar was among the lawmakers who spoke for passage of the Pet Evacuation Act, authored by then State Senator [[Heulette Fontenot]], a Republican from Livingston Parish. The legislation was approved after the heartbreak of abandoned pets in natural disasters surfaced during the aftermath of [[Hurricane Katrina]].<ref> After Katrina, Farrar spoke out in 2005 against state assistance to keep [[New Orleans Saints]] football within the state. According to Farrar, "There's no political will I have been able to find to give them anything at this point. Instead of showing the can-do spirit of getting back on their feet, they took off. That shows a tremendous lack of character."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9802E7DB1E3FF93BA15753C1A9639C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=3|tauthor=Jere Longman|title=Saints Return to Louisiana Amid Much Damage to Repair|date=October 28, 2005|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|accessdate=September 19, 2009}}</ref>

In 2003, Farrar won again, 7,072 votes (61 percent) to Pete Ferrington’s 4,519 (39 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> In 2005, Farrar was listed as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee under chairman [[Bryant Hammett|Bryant O. Hammett, Jr.]], of Ferriday in Concordia Parish in eastern Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hopenetworks.org/la_tax_2005/waymeans.html|title=2005 Louisiana House Mays and Means Committee|publisher=hopenetworks.org|accessdate=September 19, 2009}}</ref> In 2006, Farrar was among the lawmakers who spoke for passage of the Pet Evacuation Act, authored by then state Senator [[Heulette Fontenot]], a Republican from Livingston Parish. The legislation was approved after the heartbreak of abandoned pets in natural disasters surfaced during the aftermath of [[Hurricane Katrina]].<ref> After Katrina, Farrar spoke out in 2005 against state assistance to keep [[New Orleans Saints]] football within the state. According to Farrar, "There's no political will I have been able to find to give them anything at this point. Instead of showing the can-do spirit of getting back on their feet, they took off. That shows a tremendous lack of character."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9802E7DB1E3FF93BA15753C1A9639C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=3|tauthor=Jere Longman|title=Saints Return to Louisiana Amid Much Damage to Repair|date=October 28, 2005|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|accessdate=September 19, 2009}}</ref>

In 2007, Farrar was crushed as he sought his fourth nonconsecutive term in the House by Republican newcomer [[Chris Hazel]], 9,330 votes (62.5 percent) to 5,611 (37.5 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns,  October 20, 2007.</ref> Hazel became only the second Republican since Wiggins to hold the District 27 seat since [[Reconstruction]]. The post is now held by Republican [[MIchael T. Johnson]], and Hazel is a 19th Judicial Court judge.

In 2007, Farrar was crushed as he sought his fourth nonconsecutive term in the House by Republican newcomer [[Chris Hazel]], 9,330 votes (62.5 percent) to 5,611 (37.5 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns,  October 20, 2007.</ref> Hazel became only the second Republican since Wiggins to hold the District 27 seat since [[Reconstruction]]. The post is now held by Republican [[MIchael T. Johnson]], and Hazel is a 19th Judicial Court judge.