Rep. Chandler, Billy R.

House Member

Rep. Chandler, Billy R. (D)
District# 22, Dry Prong

Contact Information

District Office
Legislative Assistant : Clare Wilson
Email Chandler Billy R.
Phone: (318)899-1193
Fax: (318)899-1213
Address: P.O. Box 100
711 Hwy. 167
Dry Prong, LA 71423
Map
Capitol House Switch Band: (225) 342-6945
Capitol House Fax: (225)342-8336

Profile

- District #: House District 1
- Party: Democrat
- Caucus Membership: Democratic Caucus, Louisiana Rural Caucus
- Occupation: Retired
- Education: Dry Prong High School;
  Louisiana College, Pineville, LA
- Spouse: Marcia
- Year Elected: 2006
- Last Year Eligible(Term Limit): 2020
- 2007 Election
  Chandler easily rebuffed two challengers in the October 2007 primary to reclaim the District 22 seat. Chandler received sixty-five percent of the votes while Brandon Vickers, a Republican, was the closest challenger with twenty-five percent.

District Profile

Registered Voters by Parish: Grant 45.7%, LaSalle 32.5%, Rapides 3.1%, Winn 18.6%
Municipalities/Communities Represented: Colfax, Dry Prong, Georgetown, Jena, Midway, Montgomery, Olla, Pollock, Tullos, Urania, Winnfield
- Louisiana Map
- District Map
- Metro Map
Economic: District 22 is comprised of Grant, Winn and LaSalle parishes and a small corner of Rapides Parish. The district is defined by rolling hills and commanding pine and hardwood forests. Seventy percent of Grant Parish – about 300,000 acres – is forested and it is estimated that trees, including those in the Kisatchie National Forest, cover nearly half of the district. Much of the district’s economy revolves around the abundant and profitable natural resource. Timber cutting, harvesting and processing are booming businesses here. The forests and lakes also provide a haven for nature lovers. Farming provides a significant economic source; the area has alluvial soil that fosters fertile acreage for crops. Oil and gas exploration continue in the region and a federal prison in Grant Parish employs hundreds.

Social: In 2007, the town of Jena, located in LaSalle Parish in the eastern reaches of the district, became the focus of nationwide attention after the local district attorney charged six black teens with attempted second-degree murder after the beating of a white high school student. Tensions between black and white students had run high for weeks in Jena, including an incident where a noose was hung from a tree at school. Outrage over the prosecutions sparked a demonstration led by the Rev. Al Sharpton and other civil rights leaders. An estimated 20,000 swelled the streets of Jena, population 3,000. The case continued to fuel media coverage for the remainder of the year and underscored racial tensions in an overwhelmingly white district where unemployment and low wages continue to be a problem.

Political: The majority white district is also a haven for conservative Democrats who staunchly oppose high taxes and government interference. Conservative Republican candidates for statewide office traditionally do well here at election time.

Biography

- Billy R. Chandler secured his first full term in the state House in the October 2007 primary, easily turning back two challengers. Voters first elected him to the seat in an April 2006 special election to replace Rep. Thomas D. Wright. Chandler previously served a term on the Dry Prong Town Council and for 24 years on the Grant Parish School Board.
- In two regular sessions, Chandler has proven to be a strong advocate for economic development for his cash-strapped district. During the 2007 session, he sponsored three bills to foster economic development in the region. Gov. Kathleen Blanco signed two – one that defines the duties of the Grant Parish Economic Development District’s board of commissioners and another that created a similar district for the town of Pollock.
- Chandler has made a quick impact on issues related to commerce and education, due chiefly to his committee assignments, but his true passions seems to be his district’s local judicial and criminal justice systems. In the past, he has advocated for the payment of insurance premiums for retired sheriffs and deputy sheriffs of the LaSalle Parish Sheriff's Office, and for retirees of the clerk of court's offices in the parishes of Grant, LaSalle and Winn.