Changes

==Background==

==Background==

When he entered the legislature in 1996, Wright listed his occupation as a "teacher" and a "[[business]]man." He cited a business administration degree from the [[University of Louisiana at Monroe]], then known as  Northeast Louisiana University. He also did graduate studies at the same institution. In 1977, he formed Wright Real Estate in Jena. He was briefly a [[Pontiac]] dealer. In 1982, he was elected to the Jena City Council and held that position until he became state representative in 1996. He holds membership in the La Salle Economic Development Council, the Catahoula Lake chapter of Ducks Unlimited, the Masonic Lodge, and the [[United Methodist]] Church.​

When he entered the legislature in 1996, Wright listed his occupation as a "teacher" and a "[[business]]man." He cited a business administration degree from the [[University of Louisiana at Monroe]], then known as  Northeast Louisiana University. He also did graduate studies at the same institution. In 1977, he formed Wright Real Estate in Jena. He was briefly a [[Pontiac]] dealer. In 1982, he was elected to the Jena City Council and held that position until he became a state rresentative in 1996. He holds membership in the La Salle Economic Development Council, the Catahoula Lake chapter of Ducks Unlimited, the Masonic Lodge, and the [[United Methodist]] Church.​

==Legislative years==​

==Political life==

​

Wright was first elected to the state House in the fall of 1995 to succeed the [[Independent voter|Independent]] Representative [[Stephen  Gunn]], who later served two nonconsecutive stints as the [[mayor]] of [[rural]] Montgomery in Grant Parish. He defeated fellow Democrat Clifford Zell in the nonpartisan blanket[[ primary]].<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref> Gunn, a businessman, served only one term and did not seek reelection. He became the mayor of Montgomery in 200 and again in 2018. In 1999, Wright defeated the [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate, Ira Preuett in the primary, 7,487 votes (52 percent) to  6,823 (48 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 23, 1999.</ref>

Wright was first elected to the state House in the fall of 1995 to succeed the [[Independent voter|Independent]] Representative [[Stephen  Gunn]], who later served two nonconsecutive stints as the [[mayor]] of [[rural]] Montgomery in Grant Parish. He defeated fellow Democrat Clifford Zell in the nonpartisan blanket[[ primary]].<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref> Gunn, a businessman, served only one term and did not seek reelection. He became the mayor of Montgomery in 200 and again in 2018. In 1999, Wright defeated the [[Republican Party|Republican]] candidate, Ira Preuett in the primary, 7,487 votes (52 percent) to  6,823 (48 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 23, 1999.</ref>