Changes

Williamson said that the state Senate was consuming so much of his time that he did not wish to seek a third term. Bob Jones had said much the same when he decided to run for governor in 1975, rather than to seek reelection to the Senate. Therefore, Williamson decided to run for a statewide administrative office in the 1979 nonpartisan blanket primary. He chose the insurance commissioner's race largely because the incumbent, Sherman Albert Bernard, Sr. (1925-2012), a native of Terrebonne Parish who had become a house mover in Westwego in Jefferson Parish in the New Orleans suburbs, was under fire for corrupt practices in the handling of official duties. Bernard was later imprisoned for fraud and was finally released by the Bureau of Prisons in 1996. [14]

Williamson said that the state Senate was consuming so much of his time that he did not wish to seek a third term. Bob Jones had said much the same when he decided to run for governor in 1975, rather than to seek reelection to the Senate. Therefore, Williamson decided to run for a statewide administrative office in the 1979 nonpartisan blanket primary. He chose the insurance commissioner's race largely because the incumbent, Sherman Albert Bernard, Sr. (1925-2012), a native of Terrebonne Parish who had become a house mover in Westwego in Jefferson Parish in the New Orleans suburbs, was under fire for corrupt practices in the handling of official duties. Bernard was later imprisoned for fraud and was finally released by the Bureau of Prisons in 1996. [14]

Williamson won the endorsement of every major newspaper in the state, and he campaigned actively in most of the parishes. Cajun humorist Justin Wilson, whose father, Harry D. Wilson, was a Longite agriculture commissioner, campaigned for him. Bernard failed to win a majority in the primary, and a general election between the top two Democrats, Bernard and Williamson, was hence held at the same time that Republican [[David C. Treen]] and Democrat Louis Lambert, then a public service commissioner, contested the governorship. [15]

Williamson won the endorsement of every major newspaper in the state, and he campaigned actively in most of the parishes. Cajun humorist Justin Wilson (1914-2001), whose father, [[Harry D. Wilson]], was a Longite agriculture commissioner, campaigned for him. Bernard failed to win a majority in the primary, and a general election between the top two Democrats, Bernard and Williamson, was hence held at the same time that Republican [[David C. Treen]] and Democrat Louis Lambert, then a public service commissioner, contested the governorship. [15]

Still, Bernard prevailed with 627,247 (50.3 percent) to Williamson's 618,952 (49.7 percent). Williamson ran well in Shreveport, [[Lafayette]], [[Lake Charles]], and[[ Baton Rouge]], but he was annihilated in Orleans Parish, particularly the predominantly black Ninth Ward. Bernard also undoubtedly benefited by his being from the Orleans metro area. Williamson said that he believed that there may have been fraudulent practices in the count in New Orleans but he did not request a recount because it would have cost his campaign another $100,000 if he finished on the short end of a second official tally. [16]

Still, Bernard prevailed with 627,247 (50.3 percent) to Williamson's 618,952 (49.7 percent). Williamson ran well in Shreveport, [[Lafayette]], [[Lake Charles]], and[[ Baton Rouge]], but he was annihilated in Orleans Parish, particularly the predominantly black Ninth Ward. Bernard also undoubtedly benefited by his being from the Orleans metro area. Williamson said that he believed that there may have been fraudulent practices in the count in New Orleans but he did not request a recount because it would have cost his campaign another $100,000 if he finished on the short end of a second official tally. [16]