Changes

Consultant Jerry Parnell Payne (born 1942) recalled that Bean did not want his military heroism to be used in campaigns. "It was the third campaign I ran for him before I even found out about his military stories," said Payne. "Then he threw a fit and didn't want us to use any of that; we did anyway. Of all the campaigns I've run, and that's 150 or so, I never worked for a man more earnest, more honest, a guy who exhibits integrity more than Ron Bean."​

Consultant Jerry Parnell Payne (born 1942) recalled that Bean did not want his military heroism to be used in campaigns. "It was the third campaign I ran for him before I even found out about his military stories," said Payne. "Then he threw a fit and didn't want us to use any of that; we did anyway. Of all the campaigns I've run, and that's 150 or so, I never worked for a man more earnest, more honest, a guy who exhibits integrity more than Ron Bean."​

Bean was elected as a Republican to the Caddo Parish Police Jury in 1975 and served a single four-year term from 1976 to 1980. He was defeated for reelection in the 1979 [[general election]] by the Democrat Ponder F. McInnis (born 1940).

Bean was elected as a Republican to the Caddo Parish Police Jury in 1975 and served a single four-year term from 1976 to 1980. He was defeated for reelection in the 1979 [[general election]] by the Democrat educator Ponder Franklin McInnis (1940-2023), a native of Hornbeck in Vernon Parish.{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/obituaries/spt085328|title=Ponder McInnis obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=May 23, 2023|accessdate=May 24, 2023}}</ref>

===Election history===

===Election history===

"I am delighted that my peers thought enough of me to vote for me," Bean said. "I consider myself a [[Moderate Republican]], who can get along with folks on both sides of the fence. I hope I can contribute in a positive way to the bipartisan effort in the Senate to move the state forward."​

"I am delighted that my peers thought enough of me to vote for me," Bean said. "I consider myself a [[Moderate Republican]], who can get along with folks on both sides of the fence. I hope I can contribute in a positive way to the bipartisan effort in the Senate to move the state forward."​

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==Later years==

==Later years==

Bean lost his only son, John E. Bean (1961-2000), the victim of a traffic accident. Sherri Buffington said that Bean didn't "break down" until after he left the hospital, where he'd been "trying to take care of John's children and his daughter-in-law … I think one of the most defining statements I ever heard him make was when we were driving away and he was crying," said Buffington, after talking of how close the father and son were. "He said, 'I have to remember that for forty years I've had what some people never have in a lifetime.' That's Ron. He was always able to take a negative and make something positive out of it."​

Bean lost his only son, John E. Bean (1961-2000), the victim of a traffic accident. Sherri Buffington said that Bean didn't "break down" until after he left the hospital, where he'd been "trying to take care of John's children and his daughter-in-law … I think one of the most defining statements I ever heard him make was when we were driving away and he was crying," said Buffington, after talking of how close the father and son were. "He said, 'I have to remember that for forty years I've had what some people never have in a lifetime.' That's Ron. He was always able to take a negative and make something positive out of it."​