Changes

| term_start=February 27, 1991​

| term_start=February 27, 1991​

| term_end=1992​

| term_end=1992​

| preceded=Robert P. "Bobby" Waddell​

| preceded=[[Robert Waddell|Robert P. "Bobby" Waddell​]]

| succeeded=Cuthbert Ormond "C. O" Simpkins, Sr.​

| succeeded=Cuthbert Ormond "C. O" Simpkins, Sr.​

| office2=President, Caddo Parish Commission​

| office2=President, Caddo Parish Commission​

}}​

}}​

​

​

'''Tommy Gene Armstrong''' (born February 19, 1941) is a [[business]]man from his native [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], who served as a [[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative, only from 1991 to 1992. He filled the unexpired term of the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Robert P. "Bobby" Waddell, who resigned to become a state district court [[judge]].ˤArmstrong was elected to the House from District 4 on February 23, 1991, with 50.5 percent of the vote over two Democratic opponents, Forrest A. Davis and Stephen B. Carter.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Special election returns, February 23, 1991.</ref>​

'''Tommy Gene Armstrong''' (born February 19, 1941) is a [[business]]man from his native [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], who served as a [[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative, only from 1991 to 1992. He filled the unexpired term of the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], [[Robert Waddell|Robert P. "Bobby" Waddell, Sr.]], who resigned to become a state district court [[judge]]. Armstrong was elected to the House from District 4 on February 23, 1991, with 50.5 percent of the vote over two Democratic opponents, Forrest A. Davis and Stephen B. Carter.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Special election returns, February 23, 1991.</ref>​ Years later, judge Waddell switched his registration to Republican.

==State senate race==

==State senate race==

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​

When Armstrong won the District 4 House seat, the lines were under the 1980 [[census]]. He did not pursue a full term in 1991 because, under the 1990 census, District 4 became majority [[African American]] and heavily Democratic. Instead, Armstrong contested the District 38 seat vin the state Senate vacated by the three-term Democratic [[incumbent]], Richard Grady Neeson, Sr., also of Shreveport. Armstrong's principal rival was [[Ron Bean]], a [[Moderate Republican]], who had narrowly lost to Neeson in the 1987 election and had once been a pilot for [[U.S. President]] [[Richard M. Nixon]]. Armstrong led in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 19, 1991, with 13,354 votes (40 percent). Bean trailed with 8,866 votes (26 percent). Ken Wright, another Republican candidate, received with 6,088 votes (18 percent). Democrat Bobby Bruce Shofner (born 1948) finished last with 5,494 votes (15 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Primary election returns, October 19, 1991.</ref> In the [[general election]], Bean narrowly defeated Armstrong, 20,474 (51 percent) to 19,720 (49 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, General election returns, November 16, 1991.</ref>

When Armstrong won the District 4 House seat, the lines were under the 1980 [[census]]. He did not pursue a full term in 1991 because, under the 1990 census, District 4 became majority [[African American]] and heavily Democratic. Instead, Armstrong contested the District 38 seat vin the state Senate vacated by the three-term Democratic [[incumbent]], [[Richard Nesson|Richard Grady Neeson, Sr.]], also of Shreveport. Armstrong's principal rival was [[Ron Bean]], a [[Moderate Republican]] who had narrowly lost to Neeson in the 1987 election and had once been a pilot for [[U.S. President]] [[Richard M. Nixon]]. Armstrong led in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 19, 1991, with 13,354 votes (40 percent). Bean trailed with 8,866 votes (26 percent). Ken Wright, another Republican candidate, received with 6,088 votes (18 percent). Democrat Bobby Bruce Shofner (born 1948) finished last with 5,494 votes (15 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Primary election returns, October 19, 1991.</ref> In the [[general election]], Bean narrowly defeated Armstrong, 20,474 (51 percent) to 19,720 (49 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, General election returns, November 16, 1991.</ref>

Armstrong was known for his opposition to [[gambling]]. In 1996, he joined several [[Baptist]] ministers in appearing before the Caddo Parish Commission, on which he had previously served as a member and president, to oppose video [[poker]] at a truck stop near Keithville in south Caddo Parish, where Armstrong resides. Armstrong cited a number of publications which link political corruption to the licensing of video-poker installations. He opposed a request from Carl J. King and wife to build the video poker outlet within a forbidden B-2 zone. Such a permit would, he told commissioners, constitute "spot zoning. The Louisiana Supreme Court upheld the commission's decision to deny the needed permit to the Kings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lasc.org/opinions/97c1873.opn.PDF|title=Louisiana Supreme Court: Carl J. King ''et xu'' Caddo Parish Commission (No. 97-C-1873)|publisher=lasc.org|accessdate=October 22, 2019}}</ref>​

Armstrong was known for his opposition to [[gambling]]. In 1996, he joined several [[Baptist]] ministers in appearing before the Caddo Parish Commission, on which he had previously served as a member and president, to oppose video [[poker]] at a truck stop near Keithville in south Caddo Parish, where Armstrong resides. Armstrong cited a number of publications which link political corruption to the licensing of video-poker installations. He opposed a request from Carl J. King and wife to build the video poker outlet within a forbidden B-2 zone. Such a permit would, he told commissioners, constitute "spot zoning. The Louisiana Supreme Court upheld the commission's decision to deny the needed permit to the Kings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lasc.org/opinions/97c1873.opn.PDF|title=Louisiana Supreme Court: Carl J. King ''et xu'' Caddo Parish Commission (No. 97-C-1873)|publisher=lasc.org|accessdate=October 22, 2019}}</ref>​

On December 10, 1984, Armstrong assumed the District 11 seat on the 12-member Caddo Parish Commission, the parish governing board. From 1987 to 1989, Armstrong was the commission president.<ref name=samuels>Veta Samuels, "The History of the Caddo Parish Commission."</ref> He was succeeded in the presidential slot by [[Lloyd Lenard]], another Republican member. The Caddo Parish Commission was formerly the 20-member Caddo Police Jury, on which Armstrong also served from Ward 19 from 1976 to 1984.<ref name=samuels/> Armstrong is a former president of the Police Jury Association of Louisiana.<ref name=whoswho/> In his last election to the commission in 1987, Armstrong prevailed with 4,883 votes (59.5 percent), having won outright over a fellow Republican, Billy R. Walker, and a Democratic opponent, Derrel Franks.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Primary election returns, October 24, 1987.</ref>

On December 10, 1984, Armstrong assumed the District 11 seat on the 12-member Caddo Parish Commission, the parish governing board. From 1987 to 1989, Armstrong was the commission president.<ref name=samuels>Veta Samuels, "The History of the Caddo Parish Commission."</ref> He was succeeded in the presidential slot by [[Lloyd Lenard]], another Republican member. The Caddo Parish Commission was formerly the 20-member Caddo Police Jury, on which Armstrong also served from Ward 19 from 1976 to 1984.<ref name=samuels/> Armstrong is a former president of the Police Jury Association of Louisiana.<ref name=whoswho/> In his last election to the commission in 1987, Armstrong prevailed with 4,883 votes (59.5 percent), having won outright over a fellow Republican, Billy R. Walker, and a Democratic opponent, Derrel Franks.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Primary election returns, October 24, 1987.</ref>

The next month, in November 1987, Armstrong made a presentation before the Republican caucus for consideration to be his party's candidate in a [[special election]] for Louisiana's 4th congressional district. The seat was vacated by U.S. Representative [[Buddy Roemer]], who became [[governor]] in 1988. The caucus, however, chose [[Jim McCrery]], a [[Moderate Republican]] as its choice to carry the GOP banner, and Armstrong did not enter the contest in which McCrery prevailed.<ref>"McCrery Gets 4th District Nod," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 25, 1987, p. 1.</ref>​

The next month, in November 1987, Armstrong made a presentation before the Republican caucus for consideration to be his party's candidate in a [[special election]] for Louisiana's 4th congressional district. The seat was vacated by U.S. Representative [[Buddy Roemer]], who became [[governor]] in 1988. The caucus, however, chose [[Jim McCrery]], a former Democrat-turned-Moderate Republican as its choice to carry the GOP banner, and Armstrong did not enter the contest in which McCrery prevailed.<ref>"McCrery Gets 4th District Nod," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' November 25, 1987, p. 1.</ref>​

Armstrong resigned from the Caddo Parish Commission on February 27, 1991, to become state representative. The commissioners then named Mrs. Armstrong, the former Kathryn Mulina, known as Ginger Armstrong (born January 1941), to fill the remaining months of the term.<ref name=samuels/> Ginger Armstrong is also a former member of the Caddo Parish School Board. She was defeated for reelection to the school board in the runoff election held on December 6, 2014. Armstrong polled 2,597 votes (42.9 percent) to fellow Republican​ Kacee Hargrave Kirschvink's 3,449 (57.1 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, December 6, 2014.</ref>​

Armstrong resigned from the Caddo Parish Commission on February 27, 1991, to become state representative. The commissioners then named Mrs. Armstrong, the former Kathryn Mulina, known as Ginger Armstrong (born January 1941), to fill the remaining months of the term.<ref name=samuels/> Ginger Armstrong is also a former member of the Caddo Parish School Board. She was defeated for reelection to the school board in the runoff election held on December 6, 2014. Armstrong polled 2,597 votes (42.9 percent) to fellow Republican​ Kacee Hargrave Kirschvink's 3,449 (57.1 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, December 6, 2014.</ref>​

[[Category:Business People]]​

[[Category:Business People]]​

[[Category:Politicians]]​

[[Category:Politicians]]​

[[Category:Republicans]]​

[[Category:Republicans]]​

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Christians]]

[[Category:Christians]]