Joel Chaisson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Joel Thomas Chaisson, II | |
 Joel Chaisson |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2000 |
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| Preceded by | Ron Landry |
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President of the Louisiana State Senate
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 14, 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Don Hines of Bunkie in Avoyelles Parish |
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| In office 1992 – 2000 |
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| Preceded by | Ralph A. Miller |
| Succeeded by | Gary L. Smith, Jr. |
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| Born | 1960 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Sandra Stage Chaisson |
| Children | One daughter, Martine Chaisson |
| Occupation | Attorney; politician |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Joel Thomas Chaisson, II (born 1960), is an American Democratic politician who is currently the president of the Louisiana State Senate, having assumed the leadership position on January 14, 2008. A resident of Destrehan, Chaisson has represented Senate District 19 (St. Charles Parish) since 2000. Previously, he served from 1992-2000 in the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 56.
Chaisson succeeds the term-limited Senate President Don Hines, a Democrat from Bunkie in Avoyelles Parish in south central Louisiana. He was designated for the Senate presidency by Governor Bobby Jindal, a Republican.[1] In Louisiana, the state House Speaker and Senate President are normally recommended by the governor even if the governor's party lacks a majority in the respective chamber. Chaisson heads a Democratic Senate majority of twenty-three to sixteen, but he indicated that he will seek "bipartisanship" in a bid to work with the governor and the Republican lawmakers.[2] A Republican senator, Michael J. Michot of Lafayette, had sought the Senate presidency, but Jindal deferred to the Democratic majority as Chaisson promised cooperation.[3]
[edit] Political career
Chaisson graduated in 1980 from the University of New Orleans. In 1983, he procured his Juris Doctor law degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. That same year, his political career began, when at the age of twenty-three, he was elected to a term on the St. Charles Parish Council, a combination city-county position. St. Charles Parish is located within the New Orleans suburbs. Its parish seat is Hahnville.[2]
In the jungle primary held on October 23, 1999, Chaisson unseated fellow Democrat Ron Landry in the Senate race — 20,906 (53 percent) to 18,778 (47 percent). Chaisson was thereafter unopposed in the senatorial primaries of 2003 and 2007.[4]
Chaisson was initially elected to the Louisiana House in 1991. In the primary on October 19, he trailed the Democratic incumbent, Ralph R. Miller, 7,104 (46 percent) to 6,570 (43 percent). The remaining 1,780 votes (12 percent) went to Emile J. Garlepied, another Democrat. In the November 16 general election, Chaisson unseated Miller, 9,023 (51 percent) to 8,604 (49 percent).[5]
In 1995, Chaisson won his second term in the state House when he defeated Republican Robert "Bobby" Riggs, 9,759 (63 percent) to 5,736 (37 percent) in the primary.[6]
Chaisson is Roman Catholic and a member of the men's Knights of Columbus order. He is also active in the Lions Club. He and his wife, the former Sandra Stage (born 1951), have a daughter, Martine. Chaisson lists his hobbies as real estate development and deep-sea fishing.[7]
Will Sentell of the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate Capitol News Bureau wrote in 2007 that Chaisson's career is "one of beating long odds."[2] Chaisson has the support of the powerful interest group, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. However, he is not a firm ally of social conservatives in the legislature.
Chaisson's leadership counterpart in the Louisiana House is Speaker Jim Tucker of Terrytown, also in the New Orleans suburbs.
[edit] References
- ^ Feig, Bill. "Joel Chaisson", The Advocate, November 13, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-16.
- ^ a b c Sentell, Will. "Chaisson’s political career one of beating long odds", Baton Rouge Morning Advocate, December 3, 2007, p. Page 1A. Retrieved on 2008-01-16.
- ^ Sabludowsky, Stephen. Louisiana Jindal, The Louisiana Political Pragmatist. BayouBuzz.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-16.
- ^ Official Election Results: Results for Election Date: 10/23/99. Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved on 2008-01-16.
- ^ Official Parish Election Results: Results for Election Date: 11/16/91, Parish of St. Charles. Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved on 2008-01-16.
- ^ Official Parish Election Results: Results for Election Date: 10/21/95, Parish of St. Charles. Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved on 2008-01-16.
- ^ Senator Joel T. Chaisson - District 19. Louisiana State Senate. Retrieved on 2008-01-16.
| Preceded by Ron Landry (D) |
Louisiana State Senator from District 19 (St. Charles Parish)
Joel Thomas Chaisson, II, (D) |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Don Hines (D) of Avoyelles Parish |
President of the Louisiana State Senate
Joel Thomas Chaisson, II, (D) |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Ralph R. Miller (D) |
Louisiana State Representative from District 56 (St. Charles Parish Parish)
Joel Thomas Chaisson, II, (D) |
Succeeded by Gary L. Smith, Jr., (D) |
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