Dan Claitor
Encyclopedia
Daniel Albert Claitor known as Dan Claitor, is a Baton Rouge
attorney
and a Republican
member of the Louisiana State Senate
. He defeated fellow Republican Lee Domingue, a Baton Rouge businessman, in a special election held on April 4, 2009, for the District 16 seat vacated by Republican U.S. Representative Bill Cassidy
. Prior to Cassidy's tenure, the seat was held by Louisiana Secretary of State and Lieutenant Governor
Jay Dardenne
, another Baton Rouge Republican. Claitor received 11,713 votes (66 percent) to Domingue's 6,114 (34 percent).
s, such as William J. "Bill" Dodd, former lieutenant governor
and state education superintendent. Claitor's formal schooling began at the age of three in the preschool of the Department of Home Economics
at Louisiana State University
. He graduated in 1979 from Robert E. Lee High School and then returned to LSU to complete in 1983 a bachelor of science
degree in finance
. According to his website, he considers the progress of LSU crucial to the retention and recruitment of business in the Baton Rouge metropolitan area
. As a youth, Claitor drove delivery trucks and worked the presses and bindery operations at Claitor's, for which he is still its legal counsel.
Claitor obtained his law degree from Loyola University New Orleans
. In 1987, Claitor was named as an assistant district attorney at the annual salary of $18,951 for the Orleans Parish District Attorney's office, where he claimed a good record in fighting crime. In 2008, in his first political race, Claitor lost badly in a bid for District Attorney of the 19th District (East Baton Rouge Parish
). Claitor polled 26,880 votes (26 percent) in the district attorney's race to 76,890 ballots (74 percent) for the Democrat Hillar Moore, who carried the backing of two former Republican district attorneys, Bryan E. Bush, Jr.
, and Douglas Moreau, the outgoing DA who had served since 1991.
Claitor entered private practice in Baton Rouge in 1990. He and his wife, the former Sharmaine Leblanc (born 1961), have two sons, Sam and James Claitor. They are Roman Catholic.
s. Colongne then threw her backing to Claitor. Despite heavy spending, much of it from his own sources, Domingue scored no inroads in the second race. His campaign had spent $429,709, or nearly three-fourths of its funds, as of March 15, the last day that spending had to be reported to the office of the Louisiana secretary of state. Claitor spent $154,825.
One of the issues in the campaign centered on Dominigue's having missed casting his ballot in nine of the last twenty elections in East Baton Rouge Parish, whereas Claitor had voted in all of the past thirty such contests.
actively supported Domingue, whose family had donated some $118,500 to Jindal's previous campaigns and transition committees. Jindal's endorsement of Dominigue was his first in a legislative race since he became governor in January 2008. Jindal had earlier indicated that he would not endorse candidates in legislative or statewide elections, but he did support State Treasurer John Neely Kennedy's unsuccessful Republican challenge to Democratic
U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu
on November 4, 2008.
Jindal also did not openly support Republican former U.S. Representative Clyde C. Holloway
, who emerged as the frontrunner and winner following the withdrawal of the opposing candidate in the special election held on April 4, 2009, for the District 4 seat on the regulatory Louisiana Public Service Commission
. Nor would Jindal endorse the 2010 reelection of U.S. Senator David Vitter
, who previously held the House seat that Jindal himself occupied from 2005 to 2008.
Kirby Goidel, an LSU political analyst, interpreted the senatorial results as "baffling" and a “loss” for Jindal. "He’s irritated some people in the community, and legislators are thinking he [Jindal] could not win in a Republican race. You had a Republican-leaning district, a Republican race and not carrying that after you endorse. I don’t think there’s much ambiguity."
, a Democrat from Destrehan
, and promised to work with the new senator. He invited Claitor to the governor's office to discuss upcoming legislative matters. Claitor's primary interest in the senate will be as advocate for LSU-related issues.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Louisiana State Senate
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
. He defeated fellow Republican Lee Domingue, a Baton Rouge businessman, in a special election held on April 4, 2009, for the District 16 seat vacated by Republican U.S. Representative Bill Cassidy
Bill Cassidy
William "Bill" Cassidy is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:...
. Prior to Cassidy's tenure, the seat was held by Louisiana Secretary of State and Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
Jay Dardenne
Jay Dardenne
John Leigh "Jay" Dardenne, Jr. , has been Louisiana's Republican lieutenant governor since November 22, 2010. He won a special election to the position held in conjunction with the regular November 2 general election. At the time, Dardenne was Louisiana secretary of state...
, another Baton Rouge Republican. Claitor received 11,713 votes (66 percent) to Domingue's 6,114 (34 percent).
Early years, education, and family
Claitor was born and reared within the boundaries of his Baton Rouge senatorial district. His family operates Claitor's Bookstore, which has published general works distinct to Louisiana and the memoirs of numerous Louisiana politicianPolitician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
s, such as William J. "Bill" Dodd, former lieutenant governor
Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana
The Office of Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana is the second highest state office in Louisiana. The current Lieutenant Governor is Jay Dardenne, a Republican...
and state education superintendent. Claitor's formal schooling began at the age of three in the preschool of the Department of Home Economics
Home Economics
Home economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
at Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
. He graduated in 1979 from Robert E. Lee High School and then returned to LSU to complete in 1983 a bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
. According to his website, he considers the progress of LSU crucial to the retention and recruitment of business in the Baton Rouge metropolitan area
Baton Rouge metropolitan area
The Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is a sprawling area consisting of nine parishes in Louisiana, anchored by the city of Baton Rouge...
. As a youth, Claitor drove delivery trucks and worked the presses and bindery operations at Claitor's, for which he is still its legal counsel.
Claitor obtained his law degree from Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...
. In 1987, Claitor was named as an assistant district attorney at the annual salary of $18,951 for the Orleans Parish District Attorney's office, where he claimed a good record in fighting crime. In 2008, in his first political race, Claitor lost badly in a bid for District Attorney of the 19th District (East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
East Baton Rouge Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Baton Rouge, Louisiana's state capital. As of the 2010 census, the population was 440,171. The parish has a total area of , of which is land and is water. It is the most populous parish in the state...
). Claitor polled 26,880 votes (26 percent) in the district attorney's race to 76,890 ballots (74 percent) for the Democrat Hillar Moore, who carried the backing of two former Republican district attorneys, Bryan E. Bush, Jr.
Bryan Bush (Louisiana politician)
Bryan Edward Bush, Jr. , was the first Republican of the 20th century to hold the position of district attorney of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. Elected in 1984, Bush took office in 1985 and resigned in 1990 after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of maintaining incomplete office records...
, and Douglas Moreau, the outgoing DA who had served since 1991.
Claitor entered private practice in Baton Rouge in 1990. He and his wife, the former Sharmaine Leblanc (born 1961), have two sons, Sam and James Claitor. They are Roman Catholic.
2009 special election
In the first round of special election balloting (not an actual primary but sometimes referred to as such by the media) held on March 7, a third candidate, Republican health-care consultant Laurinda Lege Calongne (born ca. 1964), polled 4,511 votes (27 percent) to Claitor's 6,509 votes (39 percent) and Domingue's 5,760 votes (34 percent), according to official returns from all 103 precinctPrecinct
A precinct is a space enclosed by the walls or other boundaries of a particular place or building, or by an arbitrary and imaginary line drawn around it. The term has several different uses...
s. Colongne then threw her backing to Claitor. Despite heavy spending, much of it from his own sources, Domingue scored no inroads in the second race. His campaign had spent $429,709, or nearly three-fourths of its funds, as of March 15, the last day that spending had to be reported to the office of the Louisiana secretary of state. Claitor spent $154,825.
One of the issues in the campaign centered on Dominigue's having missed casting his ballot in nine of the last twenty elections in East Baton Rouge Parish, whereas Claitor had voted in all of the past thirty such contests.
Jindal's role
Governor Bobby JindalBobby Jindal
Piyush "Bobby" Jindal is the 55th and current Governor of Louisiana and formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party....
actively supported Domingue, whose family had donated some $118,500 to Jindal's previous campaigns and transition committees. Jindal's endorsement of Dominigue was his first in a legislative race since he became governor in January 2008. Jindal had earlier indicated that he would not endorse candidates in legislative or statewide elections, but he did support State Treasurer John Neely Kennedy's unsuccessful Republican challenge to Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu
Mary Landrieu
Mary Loretta Landrieu is the senior United States Senator from the State of Louisiana and a member of the Democratic Party.Born in Arlington, Virginia, Landrieu was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana...
on November 4, 2008.
Jindal also did not openly support Republican former U.S. Representative Clyde C. Holloway
Clyde C. Holloway
Clyde Cecil Holloway is an American small business owner from Forest Hill in the southern part of Rapides Parish who is one of five members of the Louisiana Public Service Commission. He also served as a conservative Republican member of the U.S...
, who emerged as the frontrunner and winner following the withdrawal of the opposing candidate in the special election held on April 4, 2009, for the District 4 seat on the regulatory Louisiana Public Service Commission
Louisiana Public Service Commission
Louisiana Public Service Commission is an independent regulatory agency which manages public utilities and motor carriers in Louisiana. The commission has five elected members chosen in single-member districts for staggered six-year terms...
. Nor would Jindal endorse the 2010 reelection of U.S. Senator David Vitter
David Vitter
David Vitter is the junior United States Senator from Louisiana and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he served in the United States House of Representatives, representing the suburban Louisiana's 1st congressional district. He served as a member of the Louisiana House of...
, who previously held the House seat that Jindal himself occupied from 2005 to 2008.
Kirby Goidel, an LSU political analyst, interpreted the senatorial results as "baffling" and a “loss” for Jindal. "He’s irritated some people in the community, and legislators are thinking he [Jindal] could not win in a Republican race. You had a Republican-leaning district, a Republican race and not carrying that after you endorse. I don’t think there’s much ambiguity."
Claitor as senator
Senator Claitor calls himself a "constructive conservative" and "a team player with an independent approach". Jindal met with Claitor three days after the election at a reception for State Senate President Joel Chaisson, IIJoel Chaisson
Joel Thomas Chaisson, II , is an American Democratic politician who is the outgoing president of the Louisiana State Senate. He assumed the leadership position on January 14, 2008. A resident of Destrehan, Chaisson has represented Senate District 19 in St. Charles Parish since 2000...
, a Democrat from Destrehan
Destrehan, Louisiana
Destrehan is a census-designated place in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2000 census. It was named after Jean N...
, and promised to work with the new senator. He invited Claitor to the governor's office to discuss upcoming legislative matters. Claitor's primary interest in the senate will be as advocate for LSU-related issues.