Joel Chaisson

Infobox State Senator


imagesize = 150px
name= Joel Thomas Chaisson, II
caption= Joel Chaisson
office=Louisiana State Senate (District 19ndash St. Charles Parish)
term_start=2000
term_end=
preceded=Ron Landry
succeeded=Incumbent
office2=President of the Louisiana State Senate
term_start2=January 14, 2008
term_end2=
preceded2=Don Hines of Bunkie in Avoyelles Parish
succeeded2=Incumbent
office3= Louisiana State Representative (District 56ndash St. Charles Parish)
term_start3=1992
term_end3=2000
preceded3=Ralph A. Miller
succeeded3=Gary L. Smith, Jr.
birth_date= 1960
birth_place=
death_date=
spouse= Sandra Stage Chaisson
children= One daughter, Martine Chaisson
party= Democratic
religion= Roman Catholic
occupation= Attorney; politician

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.cite news|accessdate=2008-01-16
url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/11232106.html?c=y&photoID=5240686&caption=State+Sen.+Joel+Chaisson+II%2C+D-Destrehan%2C+left%2C+is+introduced+Monday+by+Gov.-elect+Bobby+Jindal+as+the+choice+for+Senate+president.+%0D%0A%0D%0A&credit=The+Advocate&author=Bill+Feig
author=Feig, Bill
title=Joel Chaisson
date=November 13, 2007
work=The Advocate] 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.cite news|accessdate=2008-01-16
url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/12051551.html?showAll=y&c=y
title=Chaisson’s political career one of beating long odds
author=Sentell, Will
work=Baton Rouge Morning Advocate
date=December 3, 2007
page=Page 1A] A Republican senator, Michael J. Michot of Lafayette, had sought the Senate presidency, but Jindal deferred to the Democratic majority as Chaisson promised cooperation.cite web|accessdate=2008-01-16
url=http://www.bayoubuzz.com/News/Louisiana/Government/Louisiana_Jindal_The_Louisiana_Political_Pragmatist__5138.asp
title=Louisiana Jindal, The Louisiana Political Pragmatist
author=Sabludowsky, Stephen
publisher=BayouBuzz.com]

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.cite news|accessdate=2008-01-16
url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/12051551.html?showAll=y&c=y
title=Chaisson’s political career one of beating long odds
author=Sentell, Will
work=Baton Rouge Morning Advocate
date=December 3, 2007
page=Page 1A]

In the jungle primary held on October 23, 1999, Chaisson unseated fellow Democrat Ron Landry in the Senate racendash 20,906 (53 percent) to 18,778 (47 percent). Chaisson was thereafter unopposed in the senatorial primaries of 2003 and 2007.cite web|accessdate=2008-01-16
url=http://www400.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcms3&rqsdta=102399
publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State
title=Official Election Results: Results for Election Date: 10/23/99]

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).cite web|accessdate=2008-01-16
url=http://www400.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcpr&rqsdta=11169145
publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State
title=Official Parish Election Results: Results for Election Date: 11/16/91, Parish of St. Charles]

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.cite web|accessdate=2008-01-16
url=http://www400.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcpr&rqsdta=10219545
publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State
title=Official Parish Election Results: Results for Election Date: 10/21/95, Parish of St. Charles]

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.cite web|accessdate=2008-01-16
url=http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Chaisson/biography.asp
title=Senator Joel T. Chaisson - District 19
publisher=Louisiana State Senate]

Will Sentell of the "Baton Rouge Morning Advocate" Capitol News Bureau wrote in 2007 that Chaisson's career is "one of beating long odds."cite news|accessdate=2008-01-16
url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/12051551.html?showAll=y&c=y
title=Chaisson’s political career one of beating long odds
author=Sentell, Will
work=Baton Rouge Morning Advocate
date=December 3, 2007
page=1A] 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.

References