Changes

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1937|10|17}}

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1937|10|17}}

|offices=

|offices=

Louisiana State Representative

|district=22

|state=Louisiana

|district=22

|term_start=May 2006 - January 2012

|terms=May 2006 - January 2012

|preceded=Thomas D. "Tommy" Wright

|preceded=Thomas D. "Tommy" Wright

        |former=Y

|former=Y

|succeeded=Terry Brown

|succeeded=Terry Brown

}}

}} }}

'''Billy Ray Chandler''' (born October 17, 1937),<ref>Net Detective, People Search</ref> is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 22 in north central Louisiana. The district formerly encompassed seventy-two precincts from Grant, La Salle and parts of Winn and northern Rapides parishes. Chandler initially won a special election for the representative's post on April 29, 2006.  

'''Billy Ray Chandler''' (born October 17, 1937),<ref>Net Detective, People Search</ref> is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 22 in north central Louisiana. The district formerly encompassed seventy-two precincts from Grant, La Salle and parts of Winn and northern Rapides parishes. Chandler initially won a special election for the representative's post on April 29, 2006.  

Chandler graduated from Dry Prong High School, since Grant High School, in the village of Dry Prong in Grant Parish. He attended Louisiana College in Pineville. Chandler and his wife, Marcia F. Chandler (born October 28, 1938), reside in Dry Prong. They have three children and three grandchildren. Chandler is a retired state manager of the Woodmen of the World Insurance Company. He is a deacon at the First [[Baptist]] Church of Dry Prong. He formerly served for twenty-four years on the Grant Parish School Board and for four years as a Dry Prong alderman.<ref name=reelect/>

Chandler graduated from Dry Prong High School, since Grant High School, in the village of Dry Prong in Grant Parish. He attended Louisiana College in Pineville. Chandler and his wife, Marcia F. Chandler (born October 28, 1938), reside in Dry Prong. They have three children and three grandchildren. Chandler is a retired state manager of the Woodmen of the World Insurance Company. He is a deacon at the First [[Baptist]] Church of Dry Prong. He formerly served for twenty-four years on the Grant Parish School Board and for four years as a Dry Prong alderman.<ref name=reelect/>

==Election of 2006==

==Election of 2006==

In the spring of 2006, Chandler succeeded [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Thomas D. "Tommy" Wright of Jena, who had earlier resigned the position. As a Democrat, Chandler defeated Republican Tony Kevin Owens (born June 22, 1960), who had then relocated from Winnfield to Jena. Chandler received 5,034 votes (54 percent) to Owens' 4,234 votes (46 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/04292006/04292006_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana legislative election returns, April 29, 2006|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=August 26, 2011}}</ref>  

In the spring of 2006, Chandler succeeded [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Thomas D. "Tommy" Wright of Jena, who had earlier resigned the position. As a Democrat, Chandler defeated Republican Tony Kevin Owens (born June 22, 1960), who had then relocated from Winnfield to Jena. Chandler received 5,034 votes (54 percent) to Owens' 4,234 votes (46 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/04292006/04292006_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana legislative election returns, April 29, 2006|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=August 26, 2011}}</ref>  

District 22 was created in 1972, with Democrat Richard S. Thompson of Colfax as its first representative. The district frequently votes Republican in races for U.S. president, governor, or U.S. senator but had always sent a Democrat to the state legislature, with the exception of 1992 to 1996, when it was represented by the Independent Stephen L. Gunn of Montgomery, also in Grant Parish. Gunn did not seek a second term, and Thomas Wright was elected to succeed him

District 22 was created in 1972, with Democrat Richard S. Thompson of Colfax as its first representative. The district frequently votes Republican in races for U.S. president, governor, or U.S. senator but had always sent a Democrat to the state legislature, with the exception of 1992 to 1996, when it was represented by the Independent Stephen L. Gunn of Montgomery, also in Grant Parish. Gunn did not seek a second term, and Thomas Wright was elected to succeed him

==Election of 2007==

==Election of 2007==

Some sixteen months later, Chandler was elected to a full term in the legislature in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2007. Then a Democrat, he defeated Ernie Vallery, a Democratic attorney and LSU and Tulane Law School graduate (born  1954) of Pollock in Grant Parish, and the Republican Brandon Carnell Vickers (born 1972) of Jena, the seat of La Salle Parish. Chandler polled 9,855 votes (64 percent) to 1,719 (11 percent) for Vallery and 3,768 (25 percent) for Vickers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10202007/10202007_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, October 20, 2007|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=August 26, 2011}}</ref>

Some sixteen months later, Chandler was elected to a full term in the legislature in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2007. Then a Democrat, he defeated Ernie Vallery, a Democratic attorney and LSU and Tulane Law School graduate (born  1954) of Pollock in Grant Parish, and the Republican Brandon Carnell Vickers (born 1972) of Jena, the seat of La Salle Parish. Chandler polled 9,855 votes (64 percent) to 1,719 (11 percent) for Vallery and 3,768 (25 percent) for Vickers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10202007/10202007_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana primary election returns, October 20, 2007|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=August 26, 2011}}</ref>

==Defeat in 2011==

==Defeat in 2011==

Shortly before the beginning of the 2011 special legislative session, Chandler switched to Republican affiliation, a move presumably motivated by the increasing Republican nature of his district. Beginning in 2012, District 22 will encompass all of Grant Parish, most of LaSalle Parish, and parts of Natchitoches, Red River, and Winn parishes. The small portion from northern Rapides Parish has been extracted from District 22.<ref name=reelect>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20110826/NEWS01/108260337/Chandler-seeking-re-election-House-District-22-seat|title=Chandler seeking reelection to House District 22 seat|publisher=''Alexandria Daily Town Talk''|accessdate=August 26, 2011}}</ref>

Shortly before the beginning of the 2011 special legislative session, Chandler switched to Republican affiliation, a move presumably motivated by the increasing Republican nature of his district. Beginning in 2012, District 22 will encompass all of Grant Parish, most of LaSalle Parish, and parts of Natchitoches, Red River, and Winn parishes. The small portion from northern Rapides Parish has been extracted from District 22.<ref name=reelect>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20110826/NEWS01/108260337/Chandler-seeking-re-election-House-District-22-seat|title=Chandler seeking reelection to House District 22 seat|publisher=''Alexandria Daily Town Talk''|accessdate=August 26, 2011}}</ref>