By James Ronald Skains
Journal Correspondent

"I was retired and was enjoying being retired," said Billy Chandler of Dry Prong who recently won the special election to fill the unexpired time of former State Rep. Tommy Wright January.

"What got me stirred up and back in politics was when the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) came into Dry Prong with their plan to widen Highway 167."

"What got me really involved was that their plan totally devastated what little business was left in Dry Prong," Chandler explained. "Not only would their plan devastate the community but they wanted to route the road through Dry Prong with a new set of rules. Instead of using a the standard 120 right-away for a four lane highway, the LADOTD wanted to squeeze the right away down to a 90 foot width."

"This would allow the TIMED Management Program to not have to compensate the business owners for their loss of parking space as most businesses in Dry Prong hug the highway," said Chandler, who served 24 years on the Grant Parish School Board. "Once I got into researching the situation, I found several other things that didn't seem right about the LADOTD plans for not only Dry Prong but other rural areas. They changed the rules of building roads when ever it was to their benefit."

"After fighting this situation for nearly two years and receiving little or no help from current politicians, I decided that I could do more good inside the circle than on the outside," Chandler pointed out. "So when the opportunity came along to run in the special election to replace Wright, I decided that by being Representative I could be of help to people in District 22 who didn't have a voice in what was happening in the District."

Louisiana House of Representative District 22 includes all of LaSalle and Grant parishes along with one precinct in Rapides parish, the city of Winnfield and the southeast portion of Winn parish. Chandler was elected State Representative in his first try for the office in a hard fought campaign against eight challengers.

"This District has been so under-represented for so long that it is going to take me sometime to get caught up with all the issues," Chandler noted. "It's a fairly large district covering almost a fifty miles across by fifty miles deep. However, everyone is going to get the same representation no matter what parish they are in. One of the things that I've been noticing not only about my district but all over the state is that it is no longer politics as usual," Chandler said. "One thing that these two hurricanes have done politically is that people are more aware of the need to have competent leadership in their elected officials who gets things done."

Chandler spent most of his working career as a Woodman of the World insurance representative, retiring as the State Director located in Lafayette. Previously, Chandler had spent time representing the company not only in Grant parish but also in LaSalle parish which served him well in the recent election by knowing many people and their problems around the District.

During his 24 years on the Grant Parish School, Chandler was instrumental in the successful consolidation of three Grant parish high schools, Colfax, Dry Prong and Pollock into Grant High School located near the southern edge of Dry Prong. Prior to the consolidation of the schools, each high school only participated in one major sport, basketball. Grant High now fields a competitive football team each season and the consolidated school produces top scholars.

"In just the few days that I've been in office, I've had different lobbyista and organizations come by and tell me that they were glad that I won because they had contributed to my campaign," Chandler stated. "I've told them all the same that I don't remember getting a contribution from you but I will check my campaign records and if you did, I will return it to you."

"I'm not obligated to anyone but the people of District 22 for my being elected and that is the way it's going to be," Chandler explained. "I have a very experienced Administrative Assistant in Clare Wilson so we should be able to readily service the legislative needs of the people in Grant, Winn, and LaSalle parishes and that one precinct in Rapides parish."

"I can easily see that a legislator could get caught up in all this wheeling and dealing going on down here, and you vote for my bill and I'll vote for your bill," Chandler noted. "It seems that the State will have enough money available due to the big jump in oil prices that severe budget cuts won't be necessary."

"One thing that I have observed since I've been down here that in meetings with the LADOTD and other agencies is that with the name Representative in front of your name that you get a lot more attention and respect," Chandler pointed out. "It's a challenge to be a good legislator and knew that it would be when I made the decision to run."

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