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Powell has long been affiliated with Prudential Insurance, having been "Agent of the Year" and also "Man of the Year" designation from Tangipahoa Life Underwriters. He is a member of both the Hammond and Ponchatoula [[Chamber of Commerce|chambers of commerce]] as well as the Economic Development Foundation of Tangipahoa Parish. He is a member of the SLU Alumni Association. His wife is the former Nastais (born c. 1944).<ref>"House District 73," ''Louisiana Encyclopedia'' (1999).</ref> Powell is a former member of the Southwood Academy School Board in Hammond. He is also active in the Masonic lodge in Ponchatoula. He is a [[Southern Baptist]] [[deacon]].<ref>The Ponchatoula Times - Google News Archive Search, ''The Ponchatoula Times,'' June 24, 1982.</ref>

Powell has long been affiliated with Prudential Insurance, having been "Agent of the Year" and also "Man of the Year" designation from Tangipahoa Life Underwriters. He is a member of both the Hammond and Ponchatoula [[Chamber of Commerce|chambers of commerce]] as well as the Economic Development Foundation of Tangipahoa Parish. He is a member of the SLU Alumni Association. His wife is the former Nastais (born c. 1944).<ref>"House District 73," ''Louisiana Encyclopedia'' (1999).</ref> Powell is a former member of the Southwood Academy School Board in Hammond. He is also active in the Masonic lodge in Ponchatoula. He is a [[Southern Baptist]] [[deacon]].<ref>The Ponchatoula Times - Google News Archive Search, ''The Ponchatoula Times,'' June 24, 1982.</ref>

Powell initially ran for the state House in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] in 1995, when he faced two [[Democratic Party|Democrats]], [[incumbent]] [[Dennis Paul Hebert]] of Ponchatoula and W.E. Blackwell. Powell nearly won the position outright, having polled 6,605 (49.27 percent) to Hebert’s 5,814 (43.37 percent), and Blackwell’s remaining 988 votes (7.37 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 16, 1991.</ref> In the ensuing [[general election]] Powell narrowly topped Hebert, 7,803 (50.8 percent) to 7,563 (49.2 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 18, 1995.</ref>

Powell initially ran for the state House in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] in 1995, when he faced two [[Democratic Party|Democrats]], [[incumbent]] [[Dennis Paul Hebert]] of Ponchatoula and W.E. Blackwell. Powell nearly won the position outright, having polled 6,605 (49.27 percent) to Hebert's 5,814 (43.37 percent), and Blackwell's remaining 988 votes (7.37 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 16, 1991.</ref> In the ensuing [[general election]] Powell narrowly topped Hebert, 7,803 (50.8 percent) to 7,563 (49.2 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 18, 1995.</ref><!--September 13, 2015}}</ref>-->

September 13, 2015}}</ref>

In 1999, Hebert's son, Dennis "Bubba" Hebert, Jr., challenged Powell in the primary but lost, 4,258 votes (32 percent) to 9,037 (68 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns,  October 23, 1999.</ref> In the 2003 primary, Powell handily dispatched fellow Republican Charles J. "Chuck" Fulda, IV, 9,769 votes (75 percent) to 3,256 (25 percent).<ref>ouisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> In the 2007 primary, Powell was succeeded by fellow Republican [[Stephen Pugh]], who had lost a bid for the seat in 1991 to Dennis Hebert. By 2007, the district had become so Republican that a lone Democratic House candidate received less than 12 percent of the vote.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref>

In 1999, Hebert's son, Dennis "Bubba" Hebert, Jr., challenged Powell in the primary but lost, 4,258 votes (32 percent) to 9,037 (68 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns,  October 23, 1999.</ref> In the 2003 primary, Powell handily dispatched fellow Republican Charles J. "Chuck" Fulda, IV, 9,769 votes (75 percent) to 3,256 (25 percent).<ref>ouisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> In the 2007 primary, Powell was succeeded by fellow Republican [[Stephen Pugh]], who had lost a bid for the seat in 1991 to Dennis Hebert. By 2007, the district had become so Republican that a lone Democratic House candidate received less than 12 percent of the vote.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref>