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==Reform-minded state representative==

==Reform-minded state representative==

On February 6, 1968, Williamson was one of seven Democrats elected at-large to the state House of Representatives for Caddo Parish. The only incumbent Republican who ran that year, the late Taylor Walters O'Hearn (1908-1998) of Shreveport, led his party ticket but failed to dislodge a single Democratic candidate. [7]

On February 6, 1968, Williamson was one of seven Democrats elected at-large to the state House of Representatives for Caddo Parish. The only incumbent Republican who ran that year, Taylor Walters O'Hearn (1908-1998) of Shreveport, led his party ticket but failed to dislodge a single Democratic candidate. [7]

In 1970, Williamson voted for a two-cent increase in the state sales tax pushed by then Governor[[John J. McKeithen]] to provide pay raises for teachers and state employees. Williamson said that the vote for the sales tax hike was politically unpopular and cost many members their seats in the 1971-1972 election cycle, including even the Speaker of the House, [[John Sidney Garrett]] of Claiborne Parish. Williamson said that he too may have failed to have been reelected to the House had he run for a second term. Instead, he ran for the newly established single-member District 39 seat in the state Senate. Prior to the 1971 cycle, Louisiana legislators had often been chosen at-large within a parish or from among two or more parishes and not by separate districting. He beat his principal competitor, Caddo Parish Police Juror David Richard Carroll, Sr. (born 1926), a fellow Democrat. [8]

In 1970, Williamson voted for a two-cent increase in the state sales tax pushed by then Governor[[John J. McKeithen]] to provide pay raises for teachers and state employees. Williamson said that the vote for the sales tax hike was politically unpopular and cost many members their seats in the 1971-1972 election cycle, including even the Speaker of the House, [[John Sidney Garrett]] of Claiborne Parish. Williamson said that he too may have failed to have been reelected to the House had he run for a second term. Instead, he ran for the newly established single-member District 39 seat in the state Senate. Prior to the 1971 cycle, Louisiana legislators had often been chosen at-large within a parish or from among two or more parishes and not by separate districting. He beat his principal competitor, Caddo Parish Police Juror David Richard Carroll, Sr. (born 1926), a fellow Democrat. [8]

As a House member, Williamson said that he was appalled at conditions he found upon entering the legislature. [[Lobbyist]]s were allowed to roam the House floor at will. Secretaries were often the wives of legislators. It was difficult to reach the podium to speak and be heard. Members had no telephones at their desks on the House floor. Williamson joined the group called the "Young Turks" which demanded reforms. The dissidents succeeded in electing Edgerton L. "Bubba" Henry of Jonesboro as Speaker to succeed the defeated John S. Garrett. Among the "Young Turks" were R. W. "Buzzy" Graham of Alexandria, future Speaker John Hainkel (1938–2005) of New Orleans, and [[Robert G. Jones|Robert Gambrell "Bob" Jones]] of Lake Charles, son of former Governor [[Sam Houston Jones]]. Though Williamson's father had been a part of the Long faction in state Democratic politics, and Bob Jones' father was the epitome of anti-Longism, Williamson and the younger Jones became good friends and reform-minded allies. Both left the House after a single term to move to the state Senate. [9]

As a House member, Williamson said that he was appalled at conditions he found upon entering the legislature. [[Lobbyist]]s were allowed to roam the House floor at will. Secretaries were often the wives of legislators. It was difficult to reach the podium to speak and be heard. Members had no telephones at their desks on the House floor. Williamson joined the group called the "Young Turks" which demanded reforms. The dissidents succeeded in electing [[E. L. "Bubba" Henry]] of Jonesboro as Speaker to succeed the defeated John S. Garrett. Among the "Young Turks" were Ralph Warren "Buzzy" Graham (1937-2014) of Alexandria, future Speaker John Hainkel (1938–2005) of New Orleans, and [[Robert G. Jones|Robert Gambrell "Bob" Jones]] of Lake Charles, son of former Governor [[Sam Houston Jones]]. Though Williamson's father had been a part of the Long faction in state Democratic politics, and Bob Jones' father was the epitome of anti-Longism, Williamson and the younger Jones became good friends and reform-minded allies. Both left the House after a single term to move to the state Senate. [9]

Williamson's House seat, then numbered District 1, went to a Democrat (later Republican) that he initially supported, [[Jimmy Wilson]], who like Williamson's father, Earl Williamson, was a former mayor of Vivian, having served from 1966 to 1972. Though Wilson had defeated Earl Williamson in the 1966 mayor's race, Don Williamson put aside family feelings and supported Wilson to be Williamson's successor in the state House. [10]

Williamson's House seat, then numbered District 1, went to a Democrat (later Republican) that he initially supported, [[Jimmy Wilson]], who like Williamson's father, Earl Williamson, was a former mayor of Vivian, having served from 1966 to 1972. Though Wilson had defeated Earl Williamson in the 1966 mayor's race, Don Williamson put aside family feelings and supported Wilson to be Williamson's successor in the state House. [10]