Chaisson wins Senate seat from Landry

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 27, 1999

LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / October 27, 1999

HAHNVILLE – Irony was the order of the day in the Oct. 23 primaryelection, as Joel Chaisson II upset 24-year incumbent Sen. Ron Landry inthe District 19 Senate race.

In addition, a runoff is set between Gary Smith Jr., a lawyer, and St.Charles Parish Councilman Brian Champagne for the District 56 House of Representatives seat.

The runoff election is set for Nov. 20.State Senate District 19 Joel Chaisson II, 38, a native and resident of Destrehan, upset Ron Landry and ended the 24-year tenure of the Louisiana Senate’s longest-running current incumbent.

The lion’s share of Chaisson’s support came from St. Charles Parish,where he defeated Landry, in unofficial results, 10,925 to 5,788. In St.John the Baptist Parish, Landry’s home parish, Landry led 6,242 to 4,437.

In Lafourche Parish, where each have strong family ties, Landry led 6,730 to 5,437.

This gave Chaisson a grand total of 20,799 votes to Landry’s 18,760 votes, a win of 2,039 votes.

Ironically, when Landry was first elected in 1975 he defeated Chaisson’s father, Joel T. Chaisson, who himself served as a state representative andas a district judge.

“It was satisfying,” Chaisson observed on having defeated his father’s political rival. “I just feel really good.” Chaisson added he is “humbled” by the vote of confidence and looks forward to justifying the vote of confidence given him.

A state representative who gave up his seat to run for senator, Chaisson launched his senatorial campaign after the session in June.

“Once the session was over, I just worked hard,” he said.

State law now prohibits a senator from serving more than three consecutive terms. When he was elected to his post as 56 District StateRepresentative, Chaisson limited himself to two terms.

“I will fight to keep that law,” he pledged.

Landry said he was “a little shocked at the St. Charles Parish vote,” andadded, “St. Charles was the difference. I didn’t expect to get beat that badover there.”He added word-of-mouth rumors hurt his campaign in that parish, and said, “They were doing everything they could to destroy my vote, big time.”Landry said he would now concentrate full time on his law practice. Hesaid he would not close the door on challenging Chaisson in the next election.

State Rep. District 56In the race to select Chaisson’s successor in the House side, St. CharlesParish District 2 Councilman Brian Champagne is in a runoff with Gary L.

Smith Jr., the primary’s top vote getter.Champagne, 38, a farmer and native and resident of Luling, is completing his second term as councilman. Smith, 27, is a Norco resident and anattorney.

Champagne generated 4,431 votes in St. Charles Parish and 291 in St. JohnParish for an unofficial total of 4,742 votes. Smith generated 5,355 votesin St. Charles, and 390 in St. John Parish, for a total of 5,745.Smith, as the front runner in the primary, said he’s “been really pleased” at the results, especially with this being his first run for office. Of hisopponents, he commented, “We’ve all run a good race, and they were worthy competitors.”Champagne commented, “I feel that even with the low turnout, I appreciate those around the parish who liked the job I’ve done as a parish councilman.”He continued, after examining the Republican returns in Ormond and Willowdale, “I’ve just got to go after that vote.”Among the other candidates, Wilfred G. “Bill” Gallardo Jr., 32, ofDestrehan, totaled 767 votes in St. Charles and 45 in St. John, for a totalof 812 votes. Former 18-year St. Charles School Board member MichaelHenderson, 48, a resident of Luling, generated 2,295 votes in St. Charlesand 138 votes in St. John, for a total of 2,333 votes. Dr. Kenneth Pace, 41,a resident of St. Charles Parish, earned 2,169 St. Charles votes and 79 St.John votes for a total of 2,248.

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