Changes

The six-parish district had candidates from five parishes – Richey (Concordia), Patten again (Catahoula), State Representative [[Lanny Johnson]] (Tensas), Assistant District Attorney Jimmie C. Peters  (La Salle), and Democratic National Committeewoman Mary Lou Trawick Winters (1935-2014), a native of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], then living in Columbia in Caldwell Parish with her husband, Dr. Harry Hall Winters, III. Peters' boss and law partner was District Attorney (and former U.S. Representative) [[Speedy Long]] of Jena in LaSalle Parish. Peters thereafter became a judge of the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal. No candidate came from Franklin Parish.

The six-parish district had candidates from five parishes – Richey (Concordia), Patten again (Catahoula), State Representative [[Lanny Johnson]] (Tensas), Assistant District Attorney Jimmie C. Peters  (La Salle), and Democratic National Committeewoman Mary Lou Trawick Winters (1935-2014), a native of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], then living in Columbia in Caldwell Parish with her husband, Dr. Harry Hall Winters, III. Peters' boss and law partner was District Attorney (and former U.S. Representative) [[Speedy Long]] of Jena in LaSalle Parish. Peters thereafter became a judge of the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal. No candidate came from Franklin Parish.

Richey recalled that he met in Columbia with former Governor [[John J. McKeithen]], who had been instrumental in Winters's election as national committeewoman. Richey found that the two were "apparently... on the outs... at the time of our election. At one meeting... he suggested that I make a big push with black voters by informing them that 'Mary Lou Winters was a member of not one, but two Lily-white country clubs.' That exact line appeared in campaign letters from me to black voters in the waning days of the election." Richey ran first in the primary and defeated Mrs. Winters in the second balloting, 58-42 percent. Prior to the Senate election, Winters, an LSU graduate, had been the chief [[lobbysit]] for the Louisiana State Medical Society, in which capacity she worked pro bono in 1975 to obtain passage of legislation to protect the medical profession against questionable lawsuits. Winters served for thirty-two years on the [[Democratic National Committee]] and attended all of the presidential nominating conventions during her tenure. [5] In 1996, Winters was an elector for the reelection of[[ U.S. President]] [[Bill Clinton]], who carried Louisiana in both of his elections. She was later the vice chairman of her state party.

Richey recalled that he met in Columbia with former Governor [[John J. McKeithen]], who had been instrumental in Winters's election as national committeewoman. Richey found that the two were "apparently... on the outs... at the time of our election. At one meeting... he suggested that I make a big push with black voters by informing them that 'Mary Lou Winters was a member of not one, but two Lily-white country clubs.' That exact line appeared in campaign letters from me to black voters in the waning days of the election." Richey ran first in the primary and defeated Mrs. Winters in the second balloting, 58-42 percent. Prior to the Senate election, Winters, an LSU graduate, had been the chief [[lobbyist]] for the Louisiana State Medical Society, in which capacity she worked pro bono in 1975 to obtain passage of legislation to protect the medical profession against questionable lawsuits. Winters served for thirty-two years on the [[Democratic National Committee]] and attended all of the presidential nominating conventions during her tenure. [5] In 1996, Winters was an elector for the reelection of[[ U.S. President]] [[Bill Clinton]], who carried Louisiana in both of his elections. She was later the vice chairman of her state party.

In 1981, Richey was named "Legislator of the Year" by [[Young Americans for Freedom]] and the Louisiana Conservative Union. He was the national secretary of the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative group.

In 1981, Richey was named "Legislator of the Year" by [[Young Americans for Freedom]] and the Louisiana Conservative Union. He was the national secretary of the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative group.

==Defeat in 1983==

==Defeat in 1983==