Forrest Dunn - Political Life, 1972-1984

Political Life, 1972-1984

Dunn's first venture in politics was his relatively brief tenure on the Caddo Parish School Board from 1969-1972. Ironically, Don Williamson had also served on the school board, including a stint as its president. Williamson left the board to assume his legislative seat just as Dunn was beginning his board service.

Dunn was elected to the state legislature from District 3 in the 1971-1972 cycle, which brought Edwin Washington Edwards to the governorship. He worked in the House with Senator Williamson to obtain four-year status for Louisiana State University at Shreveport. He also fought to place Shreveport police and firefighters under the Louisiana state retirement system. He supported a successful constitutional amendment to require members of the Louisiana Board of Elemenatary and Secondary Education (BESE) to run at the same time, rather than with staggered terms.

Dunn called for an appointed state superintendent of education, an idea that came to fruition in the next session after he had left the legislature. He credited former Representative Alphonse J. Jackson of Shreveport, the father of Louisiana state Senator Lydia Jackson of Caddo Parish, with getting the bill passed.

Dunn said that he managed to acquire a popular water ride from the New Orleans World's Fair of 1984, but the City of Shreveport has never used it. Dunn said that he worked with Republican Governor David C. Treen to obtain six vans for the H.A.P. House on the Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City. The H.A.P. House provides special services for the handicapped.

Dunn also obtained state funds for a master plan for the Louisiana State Fair, held each fall in Shreveport, and a master plan and outlay plans for the museum which he administers.

One of Dunn's legislative colleagues was the late R. Harmon Drew, Sr., of Minden, the seat of Webster Parish. Drew's son, Louisiana Circuit Court Judge Harmon Drew, Jr., said that his father considered Dunn one of the hardest working and overall best legislators in Baton Rouge. Their terms coincided from 1972–1978, when the senior Drew returned to his previous post of Minden municipal judge.