Rep. Chaney, Charles R.

House Member

Rep. Chaney, Charles R. (D)
District# 19, Rayville

Contact Information

District Office
Legislative Assistant : Annette Rayborn
Email Chaney Charles R.
Phone: (318)728-5875
Fax: (318)728-5876
Address: P.O. Box 8
Rayville, LA 71269
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: Owner and manager of Albert's Men's Wear
- Education: Rayville High School;
  Louisiana State University, B.S.
- Spouse: Sharon
- Year Elected: 2007
- Last Year Eligible(Term Limit): 2020
- 2007 Election
  Political newcomer Chaney easily turned back a challenge from fellow Democrat, attorney Anita Tennant-Mack with 72 percent of the vote.

District Profile

Registered Voters by Parish: East Carroll 2.0%, Madison 11.1%, Morehouse 7.9%, Ouchita 13.3%, Richland 52.5%, West Carroll 13.1%
Municipalities/Communities Represented: Collinston, Delhi, Epps, Forest, Mangham, Mer Rouge, Monroe, Oak Ridge, Pioneer, Rayville, Richmond, Swartz, Tallulah
- Louisiana Map
- District Map
- Metro Map
Economic: District 19 includes all of Richland Parish and portions of Morehouse, West Carroll, East Carroll, Madison and Ouachita. The district is rural with few large population centers. It clings to its traditional agriculture-based economy, which flourishes thanks to many small waterways that irrigate its thousands of acres of rich farmland. Soybeans and cotton grow in abundance here and where crops aren’t being grown, cattle graze. Timber and oil and gas reserves are some of the district’s economic treasures. Unemployment is high, as is the need for workers, so labor comes relatively cheap.
Lately, its traditional agriculture base has given way as of late to some industrialization. A pulpwood plant is located at Rayville and an aluminum extrusion plant manufacturers bumper in Delhi. A youth prison at Tallulah is a major source of jobs in Madison Parish.

Social: A wide economic chasm exists within the district’s relatively small population base. A few wealthy landowners set the economic agenda for an area that continues to grapple with some of the nation’s gravest cases of poverty.

Political: A large concentration of black voters and a loyal base of white Democrats have made the area tough for Republican candidates to break into. However, conservative Democrats can do quite well here.

Biography

- The 2007 election was Charles R. “Bubba” Chaney’s first foray into politics. Before his election to the District 19 seat, Chaney owned and operated a men’s clothing store for more than three decades. He also worked for the Louisiana Department of Welfare, the state’s Department of Employment Security and Aetna life insurance company. A Rayville resident, Chaney is active in numerous church and community organizations. He also writes avidly to local newspapers, often congratulating neighbors and officials for a variety of good deeds.
- Chaney replaces term-limited Francis C. Thompson. During his seven terms in the Legislature, Thompson championed rural and agricultural causes, particularly the rights of farm and timber land owners. He also supported agricultural education in the state’s universities and high schools.
- Chaney has a variety of legislative interests, ranging from youth issues to natural resources. In 2009, he sponsored bills the defined the relationship of parent and child and defined how market development funds are collected through the LPGas Commission. During his campaign, he garnered endorsements from LABI.