Changes

By the time he sought to succeed his father as elections commissioner, Fowler was a 39-year-old Natchitoches businessman. He was the early favorite to win the position, considering the tendency of Louisiana voters to either reelect incumbents, particularly Democrats, or to promote the offspring of retiring politicians. His main rival in the nonpartisan blanket primary turned out to have been a previously defeated candidate for the Louisiana State Senate and the 1973 Constitutional Convention, [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[John Henry Baker]] of Franklin Parish. Baker had lost in 1972 to the Democratic attorney, [[James H. "Jim" Brown]], then of Ferriday for the District 32 seat in the state Senate. Months later, Baker was also defeated for a delegate slot on a nonpartisan ballot to the constitutional convention by then sitting Representative [[Lantz Womack]] of Winnsboro in Franklin Parish.

By the time he sought to succeed his father as elections commissioner, Fowler was a 39-year-old Natchitoches businessman. He was the early favorite to win the position, considering the tendency of Louisiana voters to either reelect incumbents, particularly Democrats, or to promote the offspring of retiring politicians. His main rival in the nonpartisan blanket primary turned out to have been a previously defeated candidate for the Louisiana State Senate and the 1973 Constitutional Convention, [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[John Henry Baker]] of Franklin Parish. Baker had lost in 1972 to the Democratic attorney, [[James H. "Jim" Brown]], then of Ferriday for the District 32 seat in the state Senate. Months later, Baker was also defeated for a delegate slot on a nonpartisan ballot to the constitutional convention by then sitting Representative [[Lantz Womack]] of Winnsboro in Franklin Parish.

Baker was initially ignored by the media after he announced that he would oppose Jerry Fowler, but he soon gained the support of most newspaper editorial boards and "good government" groups when he disclosed that he was running for the position in order to see it abolished. Baker hence proposed that the "useless" office, which then had a salary of $37,400 per year, be returned to the jurisdiction of the secretary of state, where it had been before Governor Long punished Secretary of State Wade Omer Martin, Jr. (1911-1990), by convincing the legislature to establish a separate elections bureau free from the control of the elected secretary of state. Ironically, what Baker was proposing would have worked to the advantage of his former rival, state Senator Jim Brown, who would be elected secretary of state in that same 1979 [[general election]], when Brown defeated [[Sandra Thompson]].

Baker was initially ignored by the media after he announced that he would oppose Jerry Fowler, but he soon gained the support of most newspaper editorial boards and "good government" groups when he disclosed that he was running for the position in order to see it abolished. Baker hence proposed that the "useless" office, which then had a salary of $37,400 per year, be returned to the jurisdiction of the secretary of state, where it had been before Governor Long punished Secretary of State[[Wade O. Martin, Jr.]], by convincing the legislature to establish a separate elections bureau free from the control of the elected secretary of state. Ironically, what Baker was proposing would have worked to the advantage of his former rival, state Senator Jim Brown, who would be elected secretary of state in that same 1979 [[general election]], when Brown defeated [[Sandra Thompson]].

Baker polled 175,017 votes in the primary, just enough to enter the general election against Jerry Fowler. Baker and his gubernatorial ticket mate, [[David C. Treen]], then of Jefferson Parish, were the first Louisiana Republicans to win statewide general election slots since the implementation of the nonpartisan primary law in 1975.​ Treen went on to win a single term as governor.

Baker polled 175,017 votes in the primary, just enough to enter the general election against Jerry Fowler. Baker and his gubernatorial ticket mate, [[David C. Treen]], then of Jefferson Parish, were the first Louisiana Republicans to win statewide general election slots since the implementation of the nonpartisan primary law in 1975.​ Treen went on to win a single term as governor.