Everything about Don Cazayoux totally explained
Donald J. Cazayoux, Jr. (pronounced ['KAZyoo]), usually known as
Don Cazayoux (born
January 17,
1964), is the new
Democratic U.S. Representative from
Louisiana's 6th congressional district. He won the
special election held on
May 3,
2008, to fill the seat vacated on
February 2 by
Republican U.S. Representative Richard H. Baker of
Baton Rouge. He defeated Republican nominee
Louis E. "Woody" Jenkins and took his oath of office from
Speaker Nancy Pelosi on
May 6.
Early life
Originally from
New Roads, Cazayoux is
Roman Catholic. He graduated from the
Catholic High School of Pointe Coupee in 1982. He earned his
bachelor of arts degree from
Louisiana State University in
Baton Rouge and a
Juris Doctor from
Georgetown University in
Washington, D.C. After finishing his studies, Cazayoux practiced law and then became a prosecutor for
Pointe Coupee Parish. As an Assistant District Attorney under 18th Judicial District Attorney, Richard "Ricky" Ward, he never lost a jury trial.
Louisiana Legislature
Cazayoux was first elected to the state legislature in
1999. He represented District 18, a heavily Democratic district that includes his home in
Pointe Coupee Parish as well as
Iberville,
West Baton Rouge, and
West Feliciana parishes. In the legislature, he became one of the few freshmen ever appointed to the powerful Appropriations Committee. He also worked for passage of laws to assist law enforcement in cracking down on child sexual predators.
After his reelection in
2007, Cazayoux attempted to become Speaker of the state House, but the position went to Republican
Jim Tucker of the New Orleans
suburbs.
Congressional election
Cazayoux announced his candidacy for the 6th District shortly after Baker resigned. With the strong backing of the national party, he easily defeated fellow state representative Michael L. Jackson, who represents a portion of Baton Rouge, in the Democratic primary.
Jenkins is a
newspaper publisher who represented part of Baton Rouge in the Louisiana House from 1972 to 2000. In the special election, Cazayoux received 49,702 votes (49.2 percent), to Jenkins' 46,741 (46.3 percent). Three minor candidates shared the remaining 4.52 percent of the ballots cast. Cazayoux clinched the seat with a nearly 5,000-vote margin in Jenkins' own
East Baton Rouge Parish. Jenkins' greatest strength was in
Livingston Parish, a heavily Republican suburb of Baton Rouge. The defeat marked Jenkins' fifth defeat for major office —
U.S. Senate in
1978,
1980, and
1996, and the former position of Louisiana elections commissioner in
1999.
In his congressional bid, Cazayoux had the support of
organized labor, including the
United Steelworkers, as well as many traditional Democratic constituency groups. Cazayoux ran several ads making sport of difficulties people may have pronouncing his
Cajun last name. His first ad began with his daughters saying their father might have a hard time in the race because of it. The
National Republican Congressional Committee released an ad referring to him as "Don Tax You."
Cazayoux is the first Democrat to represent the 6th since four-term incumbent
John Rarick was defeated in the
1974 Democratic primary. The seat was won that fall by Republican
Henson Moore, who held it for twelve years before giving way to Baker in 1987.
Cazayoux is running for a full term in November.
Politics
Cazayoux is considered a moderate-to-conservative Democrat, which is typical for most Louisiana Democrats outside
New Orleans. He strongly supports the right to life and gun rights. The latter stance earned him an "A" rating from the
National Rifle Association.
He also supports expanding
SCHIP, and favors withdrawing U.S. forces from
Iraq. He calls himself "a
John Breaux Democrat."
Personal life
Cazayoux is a former president of the New Roads branch of the
Lions Club (2002-2003). He and his wife, Cherie (married
1986), have three children, Michael, Chavanne, and Katie. Cazayoux is a distant relative of former U.S. Representative
Lindy Boggs of New Orleans.
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