Changes

In 1996, Buckels was an unsuccessful candidate for the since defunct Louisiana 7th congressional district. He finished with 5 percent of the vote; victory wen to the Democrat Christopher "Chris" John. Buckels' congressional vote inadvertenly blocked fellow Republican [[David Thibodaux]] of Lafayette from gaining one of the two runoff slots.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, September 21, 1996.</ref> who left the House in 2005 after having run unsuccessfuly in a bid to defeat Republican [[David Vitter]] for the other Louisiana Senate seat. Vitter went on to serve two terms but was defeated in 2015 in a gubernatorial bid by current Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]]. In 2007, Buckels narrowly lost a regional race for the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. He polled 76,721 votes (49 percent) to 79,697 (51 percent) for Democrat Dale Bayard,<ref>Louisiana Secretary of Sate, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> who was later defeated by Republican [[Holly Boffy]].

In 1996, Buckels was an unsuccessful candidate for the since defunct Louisiana 7th congressional district. He finished with 5 percent of the vote; victory wen to the Democrat Christopher "Chris" John. Buckels' congressional vote inadvertenly blocked fellow Republican [[David Thibodaux]] of Lafayette from gaining one of the two runoff slots.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, September 21, 1996.</ref> who left the House in 2005 after having run unsuccessfuly in a bid to defeat Republican [[David Vitter]] for the other Louisiana Senate seat. Vitter went on to serve two terms but was defeated in 2015 in a gubernatorial bid by current Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]]. In 2007, Buckels narrowly lost a regional race for the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. He polled 76,721 votes (49 percent) to 79,697 (51 percent) for Democrat Dale Bayard,<ref>Louisiana Secretary of Sate, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> who was later defeated by Republican [[Holly Boffy]].

In 2003, with 4,380 votes (29.5 percent), Buckels led the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] for the District 31 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives. The second-placed candidate, [[Donald Trahan]], another Republican, polled 4,063 votes (27.3 percent)Two other candidates, Republican Chad Zerangue and Democrat Neil J. "Sam" Melancon, both finished with just under 22 percent of the votes cast.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10042003/10042003_Legislative.html|title=Election Results|date=October 4, 2003|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=November 21, 2020}}</ref> In the runoff contest on November 15, when Kathleen Blanco defeated [[Bobby Jindal]] for governor, Trahan prevailed over Buckels by 14 votes, 8,181 (50.04 percent) to 8,168 (49.96 percent).

In 2003, with 4,380 votes (29.5 percent), Buckels led the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] for the District 31 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives. The second-placed candidate, [[Donald Trahan]], another Republican, polled 4,063 votes (27.3 percent). Two other candidates, Republican Chad Zerangue and Democrat Neil J. "Sam" Melancon, both finished with just under 22 percent of the votes cast.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10042003/10042003_Legislative.html|title=Election Results|date=October 4, 2003|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=November 21, 2020}}</ref> In the runoff contest on November 15, when Kathleen Blanco defeated [[Bobby Jindal]] for governor, Trahan prevailed over Buckels by 14 votes, 8,181 (50.04 percent) to 8,168 (49.96 percent).

<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11152003/11152003_Legislative.html|title=Election Results|date=November 15, 2003|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=November 21, 2020}}</ref>

<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11152003/11152003_Legislative.html|title=Election Results|date=November 15, 2003|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=November 21, 2020}}</ref>