Richard Burford
Encyclopedia
Richard T. "Richie" Burford (born August 19, 1946) is a beef
and dairy
farmer
from Stonewall
, Louisiana
, who is a Republican
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from District 7, southern Caddo, DeSoto, and Sabine
parishes, in the northwestern portion of the state. Burford is the first Republican to represent DeSoto Parish since Reconstruction.
Prior to his legislative service, which began on January 14, 2008, Burford was one of eleven members of the DeSoto Parish Police Jury (the parish governing council), having represented District 3 since 1996. He is a member of the DeSoto Parish Chamber of Commerce
.
As a legislator, Burford pledged to support Blueprint Louisiana, a group which proposes reforms in the way Louisiana conducts its state government and promotes high technology and economic development. It is chaired by former State Representative Sean Reilly
, an officer of Lamar Advertising Company
in Baton Rouge
.
In the general election
held on November 17, 2007, Burford defeated Democrat
Kenny Ray Cox of Mansfield
, 4,993 (63 percent) to 2,990 (37 percent) to win the House seat. In the October 20 jungle primary
, Burford and Cox led three other candidates, Republican Dennis Freeman
, the since deceased mayor
of Logansport
in DeSoto Parish, and Democrats Hilda Fair Rives and John G. Russell, a bank executive. Burford succeeded term-limited Democrat Beverly G. Bruce, who was first elected in District 7 in 1995, when she defeated the Republican Tommy Gene Armstrong
, 7,027 (53 percent) to 62,35 (47 percent). Bruce ran without opposition in both 1999 and 2003.
In an interview with the Shreveport Times, Burford cited ethics
as among his legislative priorities: "I am certainly interested in seeing a good ethics package passed [and] the completion of Interstate 49
[and] Highway 3276, a connector between U.S. Highway 171 and I-49 in the Stonewall area. Fiscal responsibility and priority spending are big issues with me."
Democrat Kenny Cox, who lost to Burford in 2007, is now running in the November 19, 2011 general election in District 23 against the Republican Representative Rick Nowlin
of Natchitoches
.
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
and dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
from Stonewall
Stonewall, Louisiana
Stonewall is a town in northern DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,668 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Shreveport–Bossier City Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, who is a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana House of Representatives
The Louisiana House of Representatives is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Louisiana. The House is composed of 105 Representatives, each of whom represents approximately 42,500 people . Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of...
from District 7, southern Caddo, DeSoto, and Sabine
Sabine Parish, Louisiana
Sabine Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is Many. In 2010, the parish's population was 24,233....
parishes, in the northwestern portion of the state. Burford is the first Republican to represent DeSoto Parish since Reconstruction.
Prior to his legislative service, which began on January 14, 2008, Burford was one of eleven members of the DeSoto Parish Police Jury (the parish governing council), having represented District 3 since 1996. He is a member of the DeSoto Parish Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
.
As a legislator, Burford pledged to support Blueprint Louisiana, a group which proposes reforms in the way Louisiana conducts its state government and promotes high technology and economic development. It is chaired by former State Representative Sean Reilly
Sean Reilly (Louisiana politician)
Sean Eugene Reilly is the Chief Executive Officer of Lamar Advertising Company in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.Lamar Advertising was founded by Charles W. Lamar, Sr., Reilly's maternal great-grandfather as a small operation in Pensacola, Florida. It is one of the largest national corporations...
, an officer of Lamar Advertising Company
Lamar Advertising Company
The Lamar Advertising Company , based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a provider of billboards, transit advertising, and highway logo signs. Founded in 1902, Lamar currently operates over 150 outdoor advertising companies in more than 40 states and Puerto Rico...
in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
.
In the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
held on November 17, 2007, Burford defeated Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Kenny Ray Cox of Mansfield
Mansfield, Louisiana
Mansfield is a city in and the parish seat of DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,001 at the 2010 census. Mansfield is part of the Shreveport–Bossier City Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, 4,993 (63 percent) to 2,990 (37 percent) to win the House seat. In the October 20 jungle primary
Jungle primary
A nonpartisan blanket primary is a primary election in which all candidates for elected office run in the same primary regardless of political party. Under this system, the top two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the next round, as in a runoff election...
, Burford and Cox led three other candidates, Republican Dennis Freeman
Dennis Freeman
Harold Dennis Freeman, known as Dennis Freeman , was the mayor of historic Logansport, a town adjacent to the Sabine River in DeSoto Parish in northwestern Louisiana from 1984 until his death. His contributions were particularly significant considering the otherwise limited role of a small-town mayor...
, the since deceased mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Logansport
Logansport, Louisiana
Logansport is a town in western DeSoto Parish adjacent to the Sabine River in western Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,630 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Shreveport–Bossier City Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
in DeSoto Parish, and Democrats Hilda Fair Rives and John G. Russell, a bank executive. Burford succeeded term-limited Democrat Beverly G. Bruce, who was first elected in District 7 in 1995, when she defeated the Republican Tommy Gene Armstrong
Tommy Armstrong (Louisiana politician)
Tommy Gene Armstrong is a businessman from Shreveport, Louisiana, who served as a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1991-1992. He filled the unexpired term of the Democrat, Robert P. "Bobby" Waddell, who resigned to become a state district court judge...
, 7,027 (53 percent) to 62,35 (47 percent). Bruce ran without opposition in both 1999 and 2003.
In an interview with the Shreveport Times, Burford cited ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
as among his legislative priorities: "I am certainly interested in seeing a good ethics package passed [and] the completion of Interstate 49
Interstate 49
Interstate 49 is currently an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the state of Louisiana in the southern United States. Its southern terminus is in Lafayette, Louisiana, at Interstate 10 while its northern terminus is in Shreveport, Louisiana, at Interstate 20.-Route...
[and] Highway 3276, a connector between U.S. Highway 171 and I-49 in the Stonewall area. Fiscal responsibility and priority spending are big issues with me."
2011 reelection
Burford easily won a second term in the House in the primary election held on October 22, 2011. He defeated the Democrat Cynthia "Cindy" Stephens Williams, 6,652 (68.9 percent) to 3,001 ballots (31.1 percent).Democrat Kenny Cox, who lost to Burford in 2007, is now running in the November 19, 2011 general election in District 23 against the Republican Representative Rick Nowlin
Rick Nowlin
Rickey L. "Rick" Nowlin is a Natchitoches engineer and businessman who is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 23 ....
of Natchitoches
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Natchitoches is a city in and the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. Established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as part of French Louisiana, the community was named after the Natchitoches Indian tribe. The City of Natchitoches was first incorporated on February...
.