Sen. Joel T. Chaisson, II

Senate Member

Sen. Joel T. Chaisson, II (D)
District# 19

Contact Information

District Office
Legislative Assistant : Belinda Polk
Email Joel T. Chaisson, II
Phone: (985) 764-9911
Fax: (985) 764-9686
Address: P.O. Box 1255
Destrehan, LA 70047
Map
Capitol House Switch Band: (225) 342-2057
Capitol House Fax: (225)342-0635

Profile

- District #: House District 0
- Party: Democrat
- Caucus Membership: --
- Occupation: Attorney, Chaisson & Chaisson
- Education: Destrehan High School;
  B.S., University of New Orleans;
  J.D., Louisiana State University Law School
- Spouse: Sandra
- Year Elected: 2000
- Last Year Eligible(Term Limit): 2012
- 2007 Election
  Chaisson first was elected to the Senate in 1999 with 53 percent of the vote, besting long-time incumbent Ron Landry. Since then, he has re-election without opposition.
  An early favorite for President of the Senate, Chaisson was appointed to the post in late 2007.
  Additionally, the district suffered secondary-storm impacts due to a population increase from evacuees following Hurricane Katrina. In coming years, Chaisson will be looking for solutions to the significant strain this has had on his district’s public infrastructure, including water, wastewater and roads.

District Profile

Registered Voters by Parish: Lafourche 28.1%, St. Charles 42.2%, St. John 29.8%
Municipalities/Communities Represented: Ama, Bayou Gauche, Boutte, Chackbay, Cheneyville, Des Allemands, Destrehan, Garyville, Hahnville, Kilona, LaPlace, Luling, Mathews, Paradise, Montz, New Sarpy, Norco, Raceland, Reserve, St. Rose, Taft, Thibodaux
- Louisiana Map
- District Map
- Metro Map
Economic: St. Charles Parish makes up the lion’s share of District 19, which also picks up in the Thibodaux area of Lafourche Parish and smaller portions of St. John the Baptist. Once predominantly rural and agricultural, the area has become heavily industrialized. Today, petroleum processing and chemical manufacturing plants are major employers, including Shell and Union Carbide. The waterways industry that services many of these plants and employs a great number of local residents is also an economic factor.
Hurricane Katrina flooded an estimated 500 homes and 125 businesses in the district in 2005. Manufacturers lost production and recovery was initially slow. Overall, the hub of St. Charles was able to retain many of its top employers, but a limited supply of drinking water on the east bank has caused a lull in some residential and commercial construction. The Lafourche portion of the district stands in marked contrast. Here the dominant economic activities are seafood and agriculture, specifically sugar cane cultivation and processing. Additionally, the city of Thibodaux is home to Nicholls State University, a major employer.

Social: The petrochemical development created a new class of worker here: blue collar, but well-paid and financially secure. The plants also attract employees from other parts of the state and nation who mix freely with long-time residents. Newcomers are found in suburban-type developments in Norco, Luling and LaPlace. These towns also are bedroom communities for many managerial and professional employees in nearby Jefferson and Orleans parishes.

Political: The industrial/agricultural mix in District 19 results in the presence of large numbers of union members and blacks. Once more liberal than most of the state, Republicans have made inroads with blue-collar workers in this district. This is now a swing district, with both parties competitive.

Biography

- Destrehan attorney Joel Chaisson II, a former member of the House, comes from a politically prominent family in St. Charles Parish. His father actually held the same House District more than two decades ago.
- Chaisson has championed drunk driving-related bills, playing an active role in passing legislation lowering thresholds for convictions. He also serves on a related-commission originally created by former Gov. Kathleen Blanco.
- While being a strong proponent of hurricane and flood protection, as well as coastal initiatives and local levee board matters, Chaisson is a vocal critic of the state retroactively limiting its liability in coastal restoration projects. It is on legal issues such as this that Chaisson has thrived on the floor, serving as a leader on legislation that affects the state’s Civil Code.
- Chaisson generally has been supportive of business interests, winning previous endorsements from LABI. His relationship with the New Orleans Saints, however, became strained after the NFL teams pulled out of an agreement in 2003 to house their training camp at Nicholls State University. Chaisson supports teachers, but remains independent of groups or labels. He has been open to gaming, authoring video poker legislation in recent sessions.
- Between redistricting, Louisiana’s fledgling budget and possibly a higher calling in a higher office, the coming years will be busy for the Senate president. He has stood with a bipartisan group of senators in the past to guard funding for higher education, and that isn’t expected to change. Aside from serving as a floor leader for the administration, Chaisson is also expected to work toward giving the Upper Chamber more independence.