Changes

In the runoff held on December 16, Bolin prevailed, 2,698 (59.5 percent) to Kirkikis' 1,833 (40.5 percent). He hence took office on January 1, 1979, for the fifteen months remaining in Drew's unexpired term.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 17, 1978.</ref>​

In the runoff held on December 16, Bolin prevailed, 2,698 (59.5 percent) to Kirkikis' 1,833 (40.5 percent). He hence took office on January 1, 1979, for the fifteen months remaining in Drew's unexpired term.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 17, 1978.</ref>​

Bolin's father had held the same House seat from 1940 to 1944. Bolin served as representative for  nearly a dozen years; he was unopposed for his last term in 1987. He resigned late in 1990, when he was elected to the state district judgeship. The senior Bolin had held that post too — from 1952 to 1960.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lasc.org/community_outreach/in_memoriam/bolin_james.asp|title=In Memoriam: Retired Second Circuit Judge James E. Bolin|publisher=Louisiana Supreme Court|accessdate=January 15, 2020}}</ref>​ Bolin was elected to full House terms in 1979, 1983, and in 1987. In the 1983 campaign, [[U.S. Senator]] [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], [[U.S. Representative]]s  Thomas Jerald "Jerry" Huckaby and [[Buddy Roemer]], then House [[Speaker]] John Hainkel, Jr., and then state Representative and later state Senator Robert Roy Adley headlined a testimonial dinner and fundraiser for Bolin held at the Minden Civic Center and attended by some one thousand supporters though he had no opponent that year.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 28, 1983, p. 1.</ref>He ran unopposed as well in 1987, when he won his third full term which he did not complete.

Bolin's father had held the same House seat from 1940 to 1944. Bolin served as representative for  nearly a dozen years; he was unopposed for his last term in 1987. He resigned late in 1990, when he was elected to the state district judgeship. The senior Bolin had held that post too — from 1952 to 1960.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lasc.org/community_outreach/in_memoriam/bolin_james.asp|title=In Memoriam: Retired Second Circuit Judge James E. Bolin|publisher=Louisiana Supreme Court|accessdate=January 15, 2020}}</ref>​ Bolin was elected to full House terms in 1979, 1983, and in 1987. In the 1983 campaign, [[U.S. Senator]] [[J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.]], then [[U.S. Representative]]s  Thomas Jerald "Jerry" Huckaby and [[Buddy Roemer]], then state House [[Speaker]] John Joseph Hainkel, Jr. (1938-2005), and then state Representative and later state Senator Robert Roy Adley headlined a testimonial dinner and fundraiser for Bolin held at the Minden Civic Center and attended by some one thousand supporters though he had no opponent that year.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 28, 1983, p. 1.</ref>He ran unopposed as well in 1987, when he won his third full term which he did not complete.

In the House, Bolin voted 55 percent from 1979 to 1984 with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. In 1984 alone, LABI ranked him 32 percent favorable. He opposed efforts by [[organized labor]] to repeal the state [[right to work]] law.<ref>"State voting record disappoints LABI," ''Minden Press-Herald,', October 17, 1984, pp. 1, 16.</ref>

In the House, Bolin voted 55 percent from 1979 to 1984 with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. In 1984 alone, LABI ranked him 32 percent favorable. He opposed efforts by [[organized labor]] to repeal the state [[right to work]] law.<ref>"State voting record disappoints LABI," ''Minden Press-Herald,', October 17, 1984, pp. 1, 16.</ref>

In the spring of 1984, Bolin was one of twenty-eight representatives who voted against a 1 percentage point increase in the state [[sales tax]], which was nevertheless pushed to passage by then [[Governor]] [[Edwin Edwards]]. Bolin said that while he admired Edwards' gubernatorial leadership and ability to get legislation enacted, "I just thought it was an improper time to drop this additional load on the taxpayers."<ref>"Rep. Bolin weighed all the factors," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 30, 1984, p. 1</ref>​

In the spring of 1984, Bolin was one of twenty-eight representatives who voted against a 1 percentage point increase in the state [[sales tax]], which was nevertheless pushed to passage by then [[Governor]] [[Edwin Edwards]]. Bolin said that while he admired Edwards' gubernatorial leadership and ability to get legislation enacted, "I just thought it was an improper time to drop this additional load on the taxpayers."<ref>"Rep. Bolin weighed all the factors," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 30, 1984, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1984, Bolin was appointed by state House Speaker [[John Alario]], then a Democrat and later a [[Moderate Republican]], to chair the Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice. Prior to that time, he had chaired the House Judiciary Committee.<ref>"Bolin heading unit on criminal justice," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 20, 1984, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1984, Bolin was appointed by state House Speaker [[John Alario]], then a Democrat and later a [[Moderate Republican]], to chair the Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice. Prior to that time, he had chaired the House Judiciary Committee.<ref>"Bolin heading unit on criminal justice," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 20, 1984, p. 1.</ref>​