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'''Glen Clay Higgins''', known as '''Clay Higgins''' and as the '''Cajun John Wayne''' (born August 1961),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Home/Home?uid=498289|title=Glen Higgins, August 1961|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=July 11, 2016}}</ref> is law enforcement officer from St. Landry Parish, [[Louisiana]], who gained national attention for his aggressive Crime Stoppers [[video]]s. He has been called "the most badass cop in America".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lockerdome.com/totalfratmove/7573506087078676|title=Meet Lt. Clay Higgins, The Most Badass Cop In America|publisher=lockerdome.com|accessdate=July 11, 2016}}</ref>

'''Glen Clay Higgins''', known as '''Clay Higgins''' and as the '''Cajun John Wayne''' (born August 1961),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Home/Home?uid=498289|title=Glen Higgins, August 1961|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=July 11, 2016}}</ref> is the incoming [[Republican]] member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] for [[Louisiana]]'s 3rd congressional district, based about Lafayette and Lake Charles.

 

Higgins is a former law enforcement officer from St. Landry Parish (Opelousas) who gained national attention for his aggressive Crime Stoppers [[video]]s. He has been called "the most bad-ass cop in America".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lockerdome.com/totalfratmove/7573506087078676|title=Meet Lt. Clay Higgins, The Most Badass Cop In America|publisher=lockerdome.com|accessdate=July 11, 2016}}</ref>

==Background==

==Background==

Some of his Crime Stoppers skits have been carried on [[NBC]]'s ''The Tonight Show'', starring Jimmy Fallon.<ref name=cajunjohnwayne/> Though he has been accused by the [[interest group]], the [[American Civil Liberties Union]], of bias against lawbreakers, whom Higgins has dubbed "animals," "thugs," and "heathens."<ref name=lafyadv>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2016/05/05/clay-higgins-says-he-may-run-congress-senate/83979304/|title=Clay Higgins to announce run for public office tonight|author=Seth Dickerson|publisher=''The Lafayette Advertiser''|date=May 18, 2016|accessdate=July 11, 2016}}</ref> With a  "country bumpkin drill-sergeant persona," Higgins emphasizes that his focus is on criminals.<ref name=cajunjohnwayne/> One of the videos features an outraged Higgins threatening the burglar who broke into a popular restaurant in Opelousas. Clarence Lazard, an [[African-American]] [[Baptist]] pastor who supports Higgins' videos, describes Higgins as "a unique gentleman who's not scared to say what he thinks." Though he is often referred to as a [[Cajun]], Higgins is actually of [[Ireland|Irish]] descent.<ref name=cajunjohnwayne>"Cajun John Wayne seeks U.S. House seat", ''San Antonio Express-News'', [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]], July 3, 2016, p. A25</ref>

Some ofHiggins' Crime Stoppers skits have been carried on [[NBC]]'s ''The Tonight Show'', starring Jimmy Fallon.<ref name=cajunjohnwayne/> Though he has been accused by the [[interest group]], the [[American Civil Liberties Union]], of bias against lawbreakers, whom Higgins has dubbed "animals," "thugs," and "heathens."<ref name=lafyadv>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2016/05/05/clay-higgins-says-he-may-run-congress-senate/83979304/|title=Clay Higgins to announce run for public office tonight|author=Seth Dickerson|publisher=''The Lafayette Advertiser''|date=May 18, 2016|accessdate=July 11, 2016}}</ref> With a  "country bumpkin drill-sergeant persona," Higgins emphasizes that his focus is on criminals.<ref name=cajunjohnwayne/> One of the videos features an outraged Higgins threatening the burglar who broke into a popular restaurant in Opelousas. Clarence Lazard, an [[African-American]] [[Baptist]] pastor who supports Higgins' videos, describes Higgins as "a unique gentleman who's not scared to say what he thinks." Though he is often referred to as a [[Cajun]], Higgins is actually of [[Ireland|Irish]] descent.<ref name=cajunjohnwayne>"Cajun John Wayne seeks U.S. House seat", ''San Antonio Express-News'', [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]], July 3, 2016, p. A25</ref>

Controversy over the videos led Higgins to resign as a captain under St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Joseph Guidroz (born April 1954), a [[Democrat]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Home/Home?uid=441885|title=Bobby Guidroz, April 1954|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=July 11, 2016}}</ref> Higgins then became a deputy marshal for the city of Lafayette and conducts extensive lecturing on law and order issues.<ref name=cajunjohnwayne/>

Controversy over the videos led Higgins to resign as a captain under St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Joseph Guidroz (born April 1954), a [[Democrat]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Home/Home?uid=441885|title=Bobby Guidroz, April 1954|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=July 11, 2016}}</ref> Higgins then became a deputy marshal for the city of Lafayette and conducts extensive lecturing on law and order issues.<ref name=cajunjohnwayne/>

==Congressional campaign==

==Congressional campaign==

A former car salesman,<ref name=salon/> Higgins is a [[Republican]] candidate for Louisiana's 3rd congressional district seat in the [[general election]] scheduled on December 10, 2016. The office which Higgins is seeking is held by Republican Charles Boustany, a retired [[physician]] from Lafayette, who ran unsuccessfully on November 8 for the [[United States Senate]] seat being vacated by another Republican, the retiring [[David Vitter]]. Higgins faces Scott Angelle, one of five members of the elected Louisiana Public Service Commission, a former Democrat now considered a [[Moderate Republican]].  

A former car salesman,<ref name=salon/> Higgins defeated another Republican, Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Scott A. Angelle, in a runoff election for the 3rd district U.S. House seat on December 10, 2016. The incumbent representative, Republican Charles Boustany, a retired [[physician]] from Lafayette, gave up the seat in an unsuccessful bid for the [[United States Senate]] in the November 8 primary election. Victory in the Senate race went to state Treasurer John Neely Kennedy, who won the right to succeed the retiring incumbent senator, Republican [[David Vitter]].  

Higgins espouses a conservative political stance in which he urges the public to:

Higgins espouses a [[conservative]] political stance in which he urges the public to:

<blockquote>

<blockquote>

Higgins' campaign hit a snag in October 2016, when ''[[Salon Media Group|Salon]]'', the [[Internet]] magazine, reported that he used his former position in the St. Landry Parish sheriff's department to launch private business deals while on public employment. Prior to the disclosure, Higgins had been running second to Scott Angelle in the preliminary congressional polls.<ref name=salon>{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2016/10/02/uniform-misconduct-inside-the-rise-and-possible-fall-of-the-cajun-john-wayne-gop-congressional-candidate-clay-higgins/|title=Uniform misconduct: Inside the rise and possible fall of 'The Cajun John Wayne', GOP congressional candidate Clay Higgins|author=Zack Kopplin|publisher=[[Salon Media Group|Salon.com]]|accessdate=October 4, 2016}}</ref>

Higgins' campaign hit a snag in October 2016, when ''[[Salon Media Group|Salon]]'', the [[Internet]] magazine, reported that he used his former position in the St. Landry Parish sheriff's department to launch private business deals while on public employment. Prior to the disclosure, Higgins had been running second to Scott Angelle in the preliminary congressional polls.<ref name=salon>{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2016/10/02/uniform-misconduct-inside-the-rise-and-possible-fall-of-the-cajun-john-wayne-gop-congressional-candidate-clay-higgins/|title=Uniform misconduct: Inside the rise and possible fall of 'The Cajun John Wayne', GOP congressional candidate Clay Higgins|author=Zack Kopplin|publisher=[[Salon Media Group|Salon.com]]|accessdate=October 4, 2016}}</ref>

In the primary held in conjunction with the presidential election in which [[Donald Trump]] easily carried the Louisiana [[electoral vote]], Angelle led a 12-candidate field with 91,374 votes (28.6 percent). Higgins trailed in second place with 84,809 ballots (26.5 percent). Finishing third was the Democrat Jacob "Dorian Phibian" Hebert, who polled 28,358 votes (8.9 percent). In seventh place was the Republican former state Representative Brett Geymann of Lake Charles, with 21,606 (6.8 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Static#/2016-11-08/resultsRace/Congressional|title=Election Returns|date=November 8, 2016|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=November 9, 2016}}</ref> Higgins trailed Angelle by 6,624 votes out of 320,434 cast in the 12-man field.<ref name=childsupport/>

In the primary held in conjunction with the presidential election in which [[Donald Trump]] easily carried the Louisiana [[electoral vote]], Angelle led a 12-candidate field with 91,374 votes (28.6 percent). Higgins trailed in second place with 84,809 ballots (26.5 percent). Finishing third was the Democrat Jacob "Dorian Phibian" Hebert, with 28,358 votes (8.9 percent). In seventh place was the Republican former state Representative Brett Geymann of Lake Charles, with 21,606 (6.8 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Static#/2016-11-08/resultsRace/Congressional|title=Election Returns|date=November 8, 2016|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=November 9, 2016}}</ref> Higgins trailed Angelle by 6,624 votes out of 320,434 cast in the 12-man field.<ref name=childsupport/>

As Higgins headed into the runoff contest with Angelle, one of his former wives, Rosemary “Stormy” Rothkamm Hambrice, from whom he was divorced in 1999, filed a $140,826 suit against him for nonpayment of child support for their children, now all adults. The suit contends that Higgins halted child-support payments in Marcb 2005, when the youngest child was ten years of age. A judge in Orange County, [[Texas]], directed Higgins to begin paying Hambrice $1,289 per month.<ref name=childsupport>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/politics/elections/article_cebe9e74-a860-11e6-a359-97e4a64fbd9f.html?sr_source=lift_amplify|title=Clay Higgins, in runoff for 3rd District seat, faces child support lawsuit from former wife|publisher=''Baton Rouge Morning Advocate''|date=November 11, 2016|accessdate=November 13, 2016}}</ref> Higgins said he paid the $1,289  in child support until 2005, when his income was reduced after he became a full-time law-enforcement officer. Higgins added that he continues to help two of his grown children with housing and transportation expenses.

As Higgins headed into the runoff contest with Angelle, one of his former wives, Rosemary “Stormy” Rothkamm Hambrice, from whom he was divorced in 1999, filed a $140,826 suit against him for nonpayment of child support for their children, now all adults. The suit contends that Higgins halted child-support payments in Marcb 2005, when the youngest child was ten years of age. A judge in Orange County, [[Texas]], directed Higgins to begin paying Hambrice $1,289 per month.<ref name=childsupport>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/politics/elections/article_cebe9e74-a860-11e6-a359-97e4a64fbd9f.html?sr_source=lift_amplify|title=Clay Higgins, in runoff for 3rd District seat, faces child support lawsuit from former wife|publisher=''Baton Rouge Morning Advocate''|date=November 11, 2016|accessdate=November 13, 2016}}</ref> Higgins said he paid the $1,289  in child support until 2005, when his income was reduced after he became a full-time law-enforcement officer. Higgins added that he continues to help two of his grown children with housing and transportation expenses.

Higgins went to [[Washington, D.C.]], on a campaign fund-raising trip that coincided with orientation of new House members. He attended an orientation dinner but said that he was not assuming that he will defeat Angelle in the runoff contest. "I am here to raise money and for people to vet me. I'm meeting with people who need to shake my hand and look into my eyes and into my heart," he said.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2016/11/16/premature-orientation-higgins-says-hes-dc-raise-money-not-mingle/93953264/|title=Premature orientation? Higgins says he's in D.C. to raise money, not mingle|author=Greg Hilburn and Deborah Barfield Berry|publisher=''Monroe News-Star''|date=November 16, 2016|accessdate=November 17, 2016}}</ref>

Higgins went to [[Washington, D.C.]], on a campaign fund-raising trip that coincided with orientation of new House members. He attended an orientation dinner but said that he was not assuming that he will defeat Angelle in the runoff contest. "I am here to raise money and for people to vet me. I'm meeting with people who need to shake my hand and look into my eyes and into my heart," he said.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2016/11/16/premature-orientation-higgins-says-hes-dc-raise-money-not-mingle/93953264/|title=Premature orientation? Higgins says he's in D.C. to raise money, not mingle|author=Greg Hilburn and Deborah Barfield Berry|publisher=''Monroe News-Star''|date=November 16, 2016|accessdate=November 17, 2016}}</ref>

A Trump supporter, Higgins carries the backing of the Lafayette-based talk radio host Moon Griffon, a long-term Angelle critic.

A Trump supporter, Higgins carried the backing of the Lafayette-based talk radio host Moon Griffon, a long-term critic of both Angelle and Angelle's campaign manager, Timothy "Timmy" Teepell, a former aid to former Governor [[Bobby Jindal]].

Higgins has trailed Angelle in fund-raising, having amassed $280,966 through December 1, compared to Angelle's $1.63 million. From October 20 to November 20, Angelle raised $281,276; Higgins, $99,345. As of November 20, Angelle had $412,806 on hand; Higgins, $34,104, according to a campaign finance report posted by the [[Federal Election Commission]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2016/12/01/angelle-cash-king-3rd-district-race-but-higgins-gets-most-bang-buck/94724428/|title=Angelle cash king in 3rd District race, but Higgins gets most bang for buck|author=Greg Hilburn|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=December 1, 2016|access date=December 2, 2016}}</ref>

Higgins has trailed Angelle in fund-raising, having amassed $280,966 through December 1, compared to Angelle's $1.63 million. From October 20 to November 20, Angelle raised $281,276; Higgins, $99,345. As of November 20, Angelle had $412,806 on hand; Higgins, $34,104, according to a campaign finance report posted by the [[Federal Election Commission]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2016/12/01/angelle-cash-king-3rd-district-race-but-higgins-gets-most-bang-buck/94724428/|title=Angelle cash king in 3rd District race, but Higgins gets most bang for buck|author=Greg Hilburn|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=December 1, 2016|access date=December 2, 2016}}</ref>

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Television]]

[[Category:Television]]