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→Political life
==Political life==
==Political life==
Odom first ran as a reformer for Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry in 1979 and easily unseated fellow Democrat Gil Dozier. This was the same general election in which Republican gubernatorial candidate U.S. Representative [[David C. Treen]] of Louisiana's 3rd congressional district narrowly defeated the Democrat, Louisiana Public Service Commissioner [[Louis Lambert|Louis J. Lambert, Jr.]] A Republican candidate for agriculture commissioner, Leland George Rawls (born August 9, 1950), a farmer from Bastrop, assistant treasurer of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee, and a Treen supporter, used a gimmick to attract attention. Rawls carried a hoe during his campaign appearances and promised to "promote, protect, and advance the Agriculture Department." He polled only 67,000 votes statewide.[6]
Odom first ran as a reformer for Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry in 1979 and easily unseated fellow Democrat Gil Dozier. This was the same general election in which Republican gubernatorial candidate U.S. Representative [[David C. Treen]] of Louisiana's 3rd congressional district narrowly defeated the Democrat, Louisiana Public Service Commissioner [[Louis Lambert|Louis J. Lambert, Jr.]] A Republican candidate for agriculture commissioner, Leland George Rawls (born August 9, 1950), a farmer from Bastrop, assistant treasurer of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee, and a Treen supporter, used a gimmick to attract attention. Rawls carried a hoe during his campaign appearances and promised to "promote, protect, and advance the Agriculture Department." He polled only 67,000 votes statewide.[6]
Odom took office on March 10, 1980. Thereafter, he rarely attracted serious opposition and consolidated his hold on the department. He won re-election in 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2003. In the 1991 contest, he defeated Republican Don Johnson and fellow Democrat [[Jack Keahey]] of Columbia, thereafter a member and president of the Tensas Basin Levee District. Odom was hence one of the longest-serving elected officials in Louisiana.
Odom took office on March 10, 1980. Thereafter, he rarely attracted serious opposition and consolidated his hold on the department. He won re-election in 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2003. In the 1991 contest, he defeated Republican Don Johnson and fellow Democrat [[Jack Keahey]] of Columbia, thereafter a member and president of the Tensas Basin Levee District. Odom was hence one of the longest-serving elected officials in Louisiana.