Don Cazayoux

Don Cazayoux
U.S. Representative Don Cazayoux
United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana
Incumbent
Assumed office 2010
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 6th district
In office May 3, 2008 – January 3, 2009
Preceded by	Richard Baker
Succeeded by	Dr. William "Bill" Cassidy
Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 18th district
In office 2000 – May 6, 2008
Preceded by	Robert "Rob" Marionneaux, Jr.
Succeeded by	Major Thibaut, Jr.
Personal details
Born	(1964-01-17) January 17, 1964 New Roads, La.
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Cherie Cazayoux
Children	Michael, Chavanne, and Katie Cazayoux
Residence	New Roads, Louisiana
Alma mater	Louisiana State University, Georgetown University
Occupation	Attorney
Religion	Roman Catholic

Donald J. 'Don' Cazayoux, Jr. (pron.: /ˈkæʒuː/; born January 17, 1964) is the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana. He is a former 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 21-year Republican incumbent Richard H. Baker. He defeated Republican nominee Louis E. "Woody" Jenkins and took his oath of office from Speaker Nancy Pelosi on May 6. Cazayoux was defeated by a Republican candidate, State Senator Bill Cassidy, in the November 4 general election.

In April 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama nominated Cazayoux as United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana, following a recommendation by U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu from May 2009.

Early life

A native of New Roads, Cazayoux is the son of Donald J. and Ann Cazayoux. His paternal grandparents were Jules Joseph Cazayoux, Jr. (1914–2010), who was employed by the Southern Cotton Oil Company, and the late Ida Belle Glynn Cazayoux. A 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 the 18th Judicial Court District Attorney, Richard "Ricky" Ward, Cazayoux 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

See also: Louisiana's 6th congressional district special election, 2008 and United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana, 2008#District 6

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.

Cazayoux's Republican opponent in the special election was Louis E. "Woody" Jenkins, a newspaper publisher who represented part of Baton Rouge in the Louisiana House from 1972 to 2000, and had been narrowly defeated for election to the U.S. Senate in 1996. 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

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.

Cazayoux was 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 lost his attempt for a full term in November 2008 to State Senator Bill Cassidy, who took 48 percent of the vote to Cazayoux' 40 percent. Jackson, this time running as an independent with funding from long-time Cassidy supporter, Lane Grigsby, finished third. Jackson garnered 36,133 votes—more than the 25,000-vote margin between Cassidy and Cazayoux, suggesting that he siphoned off many African-American votes that would have otherwise gone to Cazayoux and threw the election to Cassidy. The Daily Kingfish published photos of Jackson meeting with Congressman-elect Cassidy just three days after the election. Cazayoux was one of five incumbent House Democrats to be defeated in the 2008 congressional elections, along with Nancy Boyda (D-KS), William J. Jefferson (D-LA), Nick Lampson (D-TX), and Tim Mahoney (D-FL).

Cazayoux's 2008 campaign was endorsed by Democrats for Life of America.

Politics

Cazayoux is considered a moderate-to-conservative Democrat, which is typical for most Louisiana Democrats outside New Orleans. He strongly opposes abortion and gun control. 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. Cazayoux is a distant relative of former U.S. Representative Lindy Boggs of New Orleans.

See also

• Louisiana's 6th congressional district special election, 2008
• United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana, 2008#District 6

External links

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Congressional profile at GovTrack
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Financial information (federal office) at OpenSecrets.org
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance (federal office) at LegiStorm.com
• Issue positions and quotes at On the Issues
• Voting record at The Washington Post
• Don Cazayoux at the Open Directory Project

Louisiana House of Representatives
Preceded by Robert "Rob" Marionneaux, Jr.	Lousiania State Representative, 18th District 2000–2008	Succeeded by Major Thibaut, Jr.
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Richard Baker	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 6th congressional district May 6, 2008–January 3, 2009	Succeeded by Bill Cassidy