Changes

==Political career==

==Political career==

​

​===As state representative===

===As state representative===

On November 7, 1978, Bolin, a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], ran in the [[special election]] for the District 10 seat in the Louisiana House vacated by [[R. Harmon Drew, Sr.]] A former Minden city judge, Drew was again elected to that post in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on September 16 and had therefore resigned his House seat. Bolin led the balloting over three opponents, including Achillea Gust "Ike" Kirkikis (1926–2004), a [[Greece|Greek]]-[[United States|American]] [[business]]man from Minden who also served for four terms on the Webster Parish Police Jury, the parish governing council, was a past president of the Minden Beautification Council, and owned until 1981 Economy Butane and Propane Company.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 18, 1978, p. 1.</ref> Also in the race were outgoing Minden[[ Mayor]] [[J. E. "Pat" Patterson]] and forester William H. "Bill" Zachry, Jr. (born June 10, 1943), the most politically [[conservative]] of the four candidates. Bolin led the field, with 5,580 votes (47.2 percent) to Kirkikis's 2,789 (23.6 percent), Patterson's 2,687 (22.7 percent), and Zachry's 773 (6.5 percent). Patterson's son, Ricky Patterson (1951–1978), was shot to death on November 6, election-eve.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 7–8, 1978.</ref>

On November 7, 1978, Bolin, a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], ran in the [[special election]] for the District 10 seat in the Louisiana House vacated by [[R. Harmon Drew, Sr.]] A former Minden city judge, Drew was again elected to that post in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on September 16 and had therefore resigned his House seat. Bolin led the balloting over three opponents, including Achillea Gust "Ike" Kirkikis (1926–2004), a [[Greece|Greek]]-[[United States|American]] [[business]]man from Minden who also served for four terms on the Webster Parish Police Jury, the parish governing council, was a past president of the Minden Beautification Council, and owned until 1981 Economy Butane and Propane Company.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' December 18, 1978, p. 1.</ref> Also in the race were outgoing Minden[[ Mayor]] [[J. E. "Pat" Patterson]] and forester William H. "Bill" Zachry, Jr. (born June 10, 1943), the most politically [[conservative]] of the four candidates. Bolin led the field, with 5,580 votes (47.2 percent) to Kirkikis's 2,789 (23.6 percent), Patterson's 2,687 (22.7 percent), and Zachry's 773 (6.5 percent). Patterson's son, Ricky Patterson (1951–1978), was shot to death on November 6, election-eve.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 7–8, 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>​

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.]], then [[U.S. Representative]]s  Thomas Jerald "Jerry" Huckaby and [[Buddy Roemer]], then state House [[Speaker]] [[John Hainkel|John Joseph 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  [[Jerry Huckaby]] and [[Buddy Roemer]], then state House [[Speaker]] [[John Hainkel|John Joseph 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.

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>