Don Cazayoux
United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana
In office
June 22, 2010 – July 1, 2013
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byDavid Dugas
Succeeded byJ. Walter Green
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 6th district
In office
May 3, 2008 – January 3, 2009
Preceded byRichard Baker
Succeeded byBill Cassidy
Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from the 18th district
In office
2000 – May 6, 2008
Preceded byRobert Marionneaux
Succeeded byMajor Thibaut
Personal details
Born (1964-01-17) January 17, 1964
New Roads, Louisiana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Cherie Chavanne
​
(m. 1986)​
Children3
EducationLouisiana State University (BS, MA)
Georgetown University (JD)
OccupationLawyer

Donald Jules Cazayoux Jr.[1][2] (/ˈkæʒuː/;[3] born January 17, 1964) is an American lawyer and former politician. He served as the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana from 2010 to 2013. From 2008 to 2009, he was a Democratic United States Representative from Louisiana's 6th congressional district.[4]

He won a special election held on May 3, 2008, to fill the seat vacated on Republican Congressman Richard H. Baker. He defeated Republican nominee Woody Jenkins and was sworn in on May 6, 2008.[5] In the regularly-scheduled general election held later that year, Cazayoux ran for re-election but was defeated by the Republican nominee, State Senator Bill Cassidy.

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.[6] A Roman Catholic, he graduated from the Catholic High School of Pointe Coupee in 1982.[7] 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.

Political career

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.

U.S. House of Representatives

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 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's 40 percent. Jackson ran again, this time as an independent with funding from long-time Cassidy supporter Lane Grigsby.[8] He finished third,[9] garnering 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.[10] 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.[11]

Political positions

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.[12]

He also supports expanding SCHIP, and favors withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq. He calls himself "a John Breaux Democrat."[13]

Career after Congress

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.[14] Cazayoux was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate for the position on June 22, 2010.[15]

In 2014, after stepping down as U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana, Cazayoux announced the opening of the Cazayoux Ewing law offices in Baton Rouge and New Roads. Lane Ewing, a former assistant U.S. Attorney, is partnering with Cazayoux, who has also tapped former longtime assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Lemelle to join the firm.[16]

Personal life

Cazayoux is a former president of the New Roads branch of the Lions Club (2002–2003). He married Cherie Chavanne in 1986, and they have three children, Michael, Chavanne, and Katie.[17][2] Cazayoux is a distant relative of the late Lindy Boggs, former US Representative and US Ambassador.[18][5]

Electoral history

Louisiana's 6th Congressional District Special Election (May 3, 2008)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Don Cazayoux 49,703 49.20
Republican Woody Jenkins 46,746 46.78
Independent Ashley Casey 3,718 3.68
Independent Peter J. Aranyosi 448 0.44
Constitution Randall T. Hayes 402 0.40
Total votes 101,017 100.00
Turnout  
Democratic gain from Republican
Louisiana's 6th Congressional District General Election (2008)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Cassidy 150,332 48.12
Democratic Don Cazayoux 125,886 40.29
Independent Michael Jackson 36,198 11.59
Total votes 312,416 100.00
Turnout  
Republican gain from Democratic

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Financial Disclosure Reports of Members of The U.S. House of Representatives for the period between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007". U.S. House of Representatives. 2008.
  2. 1 2 "Oak Grove Personals". The West Carroll Gazette. August 20, 1986.
  3. ↑ DonCazayoux (February 15, 2008). "Not Easy". Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2017 – via YouTube.
  4. ↑ Representatives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of. "Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives - 404". Archived from the original on June 20, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. 1 2 Advocate, The. "theadvocate.com - The Advocate - Baton Rouge News, Sports and Entertainment". Retrieved January 23, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Jules Joseph Cazayoux Jr. obituary". Baton Rouge Morning Advocate. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  7. ↑ Louisiana House of Representatives – Internet Portal
  8. ↑ Kraushaar, Josh (October 24, 2008). "Strange bedfellows in Louisiana". Politico.Com. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  9. ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State-Multi-Parish Elections Inquiry Archived September 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ Archived December 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ "ActBlue — Democrats for Life of America". Retrieved January 23, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Cazayoux on the issues". Archived from the original on April 15, 2008. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
  13. ↑ DonCazayoux (February 21, 2008). "Been Fighting". Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2017 – via YouTube.
  14. ↑ "Obama names former Dem Rep. Cazayoux as U.S. Attorney". TheHill. April 14, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Senate Confirms Louisiana Nominees Cazayoux, Whitehorn, Harrison | Mary Landrieu | U.S. Senator for Louisiana". Landrieu.senate.gov. Archived from the original on March 26, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Former lawmaker and US Attorney opens law offices in B.R., New Roads". Businessreport.com. March 25, 2014. Archived from the original on March 27, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Don Cazayoux for Congress | Meet Don". Archived from the original on April 20, 2008. Retrieved March 9, 2008.
  18. ↑ "Lindy Boggs, Longtime Representative and Champion of Women, Is Dead at 97". The New York Times. July 28, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
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