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'''Clay John Schexnayder''' (born 1969) is a [[business]]man from Ascension Parish in south [[Louisiana]], who is a [[Republican]] member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. His District 81 encompasses that section of Livingston Parish south of Interstate 12, the southeastern portion of Ascension Parish, and precincts on the east bank of the [[Mississippi River]] in St. James and St. John the Baptist parishes between Gramercy and Reserve, Louisiana.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://clayschexnayder.com/page/press-room/schexnayder-announces-candidacy.html|title=Schexnayder Announces Candidacy|publisher=clayschexnayder.com|accessdate=September 2, 2012}}</ref>

 

'''Clay John Schexnayder''' (born February 25, 1969) is a [[business]]man from Sorrento in Ascension Parish in south [[Louisiana]], who is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. His District 81 encompasses that section of Livingston Parish south of Interstate 12, the southeastern portion of Ascension Parish, and precincts on the east bank of the [[Mississippi River]] in St. James and St. John the Baptist parishes between Gramercy and Reserve, Louisiana.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://clayschexnayder.com/page/press-room/schexnayder-announces-candidacy.html|title=Schexnayder Announces Candidacy|publisher=clayschexnayder.com|accessdate=September 2, 2012}}</ref>

   

   

==Background==

==Background==

Schexnayder is the son of Perry P. Schexnayder and the former Dorothy Ann Demars (1937-2009). His mother was a star basketball player when French Settlement High School, located in the village of French Settlement in Livingston Parish, won the state championships in 1954, 1955, and 1956.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=dorothy-ann-demars-schexnayder&pid=136686888&fhid=3960|title=Dorothy Ann Demars Schexnayder|publisher=''Baton Rouge Morning Advocate'', November 30, 2009|accessdate=May 16, 2012}}</ref> His paternal grandfather, Harold "Pocahontas" Schexnayder, worked years earlier in the district as a game warden with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.<ref name=bio/>

Schexnayder is the son of Perry P. Schexnayder and the former Dorothy Ann Demars (1937-2009). His mother was a star basketball player when French Settlement High School, located in the village of French Settlement in Livingston Parish, won the state championships in 1954, 1955, and 1956.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=dorothy-ann-demars-schexnayder&pid=136686888&fhid=3960|title=Dorothy Ann Demars Schexnayder|publisher=''Baton Rouge Morning Advocate'', November 30, 2009|accessdate=May 16, 2012}}</ref> His paternal grandfather, Harold "Pocahontas" Schexnayder, worked years earlier in the district as a game warden with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.<ref name=bio/>

   

   

In 1989, Clay Schexnayder graduated from French Settlement High School. In 1991, he graduated from the Allen Institute in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]], where he studied basic automotive training and computerization and procured an "Automotive Service Excellence" certificate. He is also a former race car driver, having participated in competition on the Louisiana, [[Mississippi]], and [[Arkansas]] circuit. A former employee of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, Schenayder has since 1998 operated Car Craft Automotive in Sorrento in in Ascension Parish. He also has experience in law enforcement as a part-time Ascension Parish sheriff's deputy, with service in the mounted division. He provided patrol duty and managed traffic during local events and emergencies.<ref name=bio/>  

In 1989, Clay Schexnayder graduated from French Settlement High School. In 1991, he graduated from the Allen Institute in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]], at which he studied basic automotive training and computerization and procured an "Automotive Service Excellence" certificate. He is also a former race car driver, having participated in competition on the Louisiana, [[Mississippi]], and [[Arkansas]] circuit. A former employee of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, Schenayder has since 1998 operated Car Craft Automotive in Sorrento in in Ascension Parish. He also has experience in law enforcement as a part-time Ascension Parish sheriff's deputy, with service in the mounted division. He provided patrol duty and managed traffic during local events and emergencies.<ref name=bio/>  

Schexnayder and his wife, the former Phoebe Keller, have, as of 2012, four children, a daughter-in-law, and three grandsons, including twins who were born on July 4, 2011.<ref name=bio/>

Schexnayder and his wife, the former Phoebe Keller, have, as of 2012, four children, a daughter-in-law, and three grandsons, including twins who were born on July 4, 2011.<ref name=bio/>

   

   

==Legislative election==  

==Legislative election==  

House District 81 opened to competition when the strongly [[conservative]] Republican incumbent John LaBruzzo in Jefferson Parish was shifted through [[redistricting]] into District 94. In the [[general election]] held on November 19, 2011, the more moderate Schexnayder defeated the [[Democrat]] Kevin Hull, 5,549 (64 percent) to 3,116 (36 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url= http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11192011/11192011_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana general election returns, November 19, 2012|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 16, 2012}}</ref> In the campaign, Schexnayder promised if elected to seek more jobs to the state, to strengthen the local and state educational systems, and to enhance infrastructure to manage long-term growth and traffic flow. Schexnayder carried the support of Governor [[Bobby Jindal]] and the outgoing Republican Representative Mert Smiley in District 89, who was instead narrowly elected as the Ascension Parish assessor.The [[TEA Party]] movement did not endorse Schexnayder; instead it called him a "tax-and-spend Republican."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://louisianaconservative.com/tea-power-of-louisiana|title=Tea Party of Louisiana, October 8, 2011|publisher=louisianaconservative.com|accessdate=May 16, 2012}}</ref>

House District 81 opened to competition when the strongly [[conservative]] Republican incumbent John LaBruzzo in Jefferson Parish was shifted through [[redistricting]] into District 94. In the [[general election]] held on November 19, 2011, the more moderate Schexnayder defeated the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Kevin Hull, 5,549 (64 percent) to 3,116 (36 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url= http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11192011/11192011_Legislative.html|title=Louisiana general election returns, November 19, 2012|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|accessdate=May 16, 2012}}</ref> In the campaign, Schexnayder promised if elected to seek more jobs to the state, to strengthen the local and state educational systems, and to enhance infrastructure to manage long-term growth and traffic flow. Schexnayder carried the support of Governor [[Bobby Jindal]] and the outgoing Republican Representative Mert Smiley in District 89, who was instead narrowly elected as the Ascension Parish assessor.The [[TEA Party]] movement did not endorse Schexnayder; instead it called him a "tax-and-spend Republican."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://louisianaconservative.com/tea-power-of-louisiana|title=Tea Party of Louisiana, October 8, 2011|publisher=louisianaconservative.com|accessdate=May 16, 2012}}</ref>

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:Politicians]]

[[Category:Politicians]]

[[Category:Republican Party]]

[[Category:Republican Party]]