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{{Infobox officeholder

{{Infobox officeholder

|name=Lowell Christopher "Chris" Hazel

|name=Lowell Christopher "Chris" Hazel

|office=Judge of the Louisiana 9th Judicial District Court

|office=Division B Judge of the Louisiana<br>9th Judicial District Court

|term_start=January 2019

|term_start=January 2019

|term_end=

|term_end=

Hazel is only the second Republican ever to hold the District 27 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives. He is only the third member of his party in modern times to represent Rapides Parish in the state House, the others having been the late [[Jock Scott]], who served as a Republican from neighboring District 26 from 1985 to 1988, and Randy Wiggins to, the District 27 representative from 1996 to 2000, who left the House after an unsuccessful challenge in 1999 to State Senator [[Joe McPherson]].}}

Hazel is only the second Republican ever to hold the District 27 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives. He is only the third member of his party in modern times to represent Rapides Parish in the state House, the others having been the late [[Jock Scott]], who served as a Republican from neighboring District 26 from 1985 to 1988, and Randy Wiggins to, the District 27 representative from 1996 to 2000, who left the House after an unsuccessful challenge in 1999 to State Senator [[Joe McPherson]].}}

'''Lowell Christopher Hazel,''' known as ''Chris Hazel'' (born January 25, 1965), is an [[attorney]] and [[judge]] of the 9th Judicial District Court, based in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], [[Louisiana]]. Earlier from 2008 to 2018, he was a [[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative for District 27, which encompasses [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] and northern Rapides Parish. The seat is now held by another Republican, Mike Johnson, not to be confused with [[Mike Johnson]], [[U.S. Representative]] for Louisiana's 4th congressional district.  

'''Lowell Christopher Hazel,''' known as ''Chris Hazel''' (born January 25, 1965) is an [[attorney]] and [[judge]] of the 9th Judicial District Court, based in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], [[Louisiana]]. Earlier from 2008 to 2018, he was a [[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative for District 27, which encompasses [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] and northern Rapides Parish. The seat is now held by another Republican, Mike Johnson, not to be confused with [[Mike Johnson]], [[U.S. Representative]] for Louisiana's 4th congressional district.  

==Background==

==Background==

==Electiion history==

==Electiion history==

In the  nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2007, Hazel unseated Democratic state Representative Rick L. Farrar of Pineville, 9,330 votes (62.5 percent) to 5,611 (37.5 percent).[2] Farrar had first won the seat in the primary held on October 19, 1991, when he upset fellow Democrat Carl Newton Gunter, Jr., 7,729 (56.6 percent) to 5,929 (43.4 percent).[3] Gunter had been known for his [[Populism|populist]] political stance and his outspoken opposition to [[abortion]].[4] Farrar was narrowly unseated for the 1996-2000 term by the Republican Randy Eugene Wiggins of Pineville, a [[State Farm]] i[[nsurance]] agent in Alexandria. On October 6, 1995, Wiggins defeated Farrar, 6,350 votes (51.1 percent) to 6,077 (48.9 percent).[5] When Wiggins ran for the state Senate in 1999 against former Senator [[Joe McPherson]], who did not run in 1995, Farrar staged a successful return to office. In the 2003 primary, Farrar handil [[Independent]ly defeated [[Independent]]  "Pete" Ferrington,, 7,072 (61 percent) to 4,519 (39 percent).[6]

In the  nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2007, Hazel unseated Democratic state Representative Rick L. Farrar (1960-2018) of Pineville, 9,330 votes (62.5 percent) to 5,611 (37.5 percent).[2] Farrar had first won the seat in the primary held on October 19, 1991, when he upset fellow Democrat Carl Newton Gunter, Jr. (1938-1999), 7,729 (56.6 percent) to 5,929 (43.4 percent).[3] Gunter had been known for his [[Populism|populist]] political stance and his outspoken opposition to [[abortion]].[4] Farrar was narrowly unseated for the 1996-2000 term by the Republican Randy Eugene Wiggins of Pineville, a [[State Farm]] i[[nsurance]] agent in Alexandria. On October 6, 1995, Wiggins defeated Farrar, 6,350 votes (51.1 percent) to 6,077 (48.9 percent).[5] When Wiggins ran for the state Senate in 1999 against former Senator [[Joe McPherson]], who did not run in 1995, Farrar staged a successful return to office. In the 2003 primary, Farrar handil [[Independent]ly defeated [[Independent]]  "Pete" Ferrington,, 7,072 (61 percent) to 4,519 (39 percent).[6]

Randy Wiggins, meanwhile, challenged the second-term reelection of Hazel  in the primary held on October 22, 2011, but Hazel handily defeated the former representative, 8,089 votes (60.8 percent) to 5,220 votes (39.2 percent).[7]

Randy Wiggins, meanwhile, challenged the second-term reelection of Hazel  in the primary held on October 22, 2011, but Hazel handily defeated the former representative, 8,089 votes (60.8 percent) to 5,220 votes (39.2 percent).[7]

==Legal career==

==Legal career==

From 2004 to 2007, Hazel was an assistant district attorney in Alexandria. From 2003 to 2004, he  was the assistant D.A. in neighboring Grant Parish. From 2000 to 2002, he was a law clerk for 9th Judicial District Judge Tom Yeager in Alexandria.[8]In 2018, Hazel won the election to choose a successor upon the retirement of Judge Yeager.

From 2004 to 2007, Hazel was an assistant district attorney in Alexandria. From 2003 to 2004, he  was the assistant D.A. in neighboring Grant Parish. From 2000 to 2002, he was a law clerk for 9th Judicial District Judge Tom Yeager in Alexandria.[8]

 

In 2018, Hazel won the election to choose a successor upon the retirement of Judge Yeager.

==Legislative tenure==

==Legislative tenure==

In March 2008, Hazel introduced HB 303 to authorize former employees of district attorneys and assistant district attorneys to retain their retirement benefits if they become re-employed at a salary less than provided under existing state law. The measure would not apply to Hazel, for he had only four years of such service. as an assistant district attorney.[11]

In March 2008, Hazel introduced HB 303 to authorize former employees of district attorneys and assistant district attorneys to retain their retirement benefits if they become re-employed at a salary less than provided under existing state law. The measure would not apply to Hazel, for he had only four years of such service. as an assistant district attorney.[11]

Hazel introduced HB 40 in the 2008 session to help police crack down on prostitution by broadening the legal definition of "sexual intercourse" to include "oral, anal or vaginal" contact. Hazel said that his measure would "close loopholes" so that defense attorneys could not argue over the nuances of sexual relations in certain instances.[12] Despite ridicule from numerous bloggers, Hazel's bill was signed into law by then Governor [[Bobby Jindal]] on June 12, 2008.[13]

Hazel introduced HB 40 in the 2008 session to help police crack down on prostitution by broadening the legal definition of "sexual intercourse" to include "oral, anal or vaginal" contact. Hazel said that his measure would "close loopholes" so that defense attorneys could not argue over the nuances of sexual relations in certain instances.[12] Despite ridicule from numerous bloggers, Hazel's bill was signed into law by Republican then Governor [[Bobby Jindal]] on June 12, 2008.[13]

 

Hazel was rated in 2013 and 2014 as 90 percent favorable by the conservative  Louisiana Family Forum; the organization scored him 75 percent in 2010. Louisiana Right to Life scored him 100 percent for each year that he has been a legislator. The Louisiana Association of Educators rates him 50 percent. He is ranked from 64 to 78 percent by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry; in 2012, the National Federation of Independent Business scored him 50 percent.[14]

In 2014, Hazel co-sponsored the requirement that abortion providers have hospital admitting privileges near their clinics; the bill was approved by the full House, 88-5. In 2014, he voted against extending the time for implementation of the Common Core State Standards Initiative. He voted to prohibit the transportation of dogs in the beds of pick-up trucks while traveling on interstate highways; the measure passed the House, 53-34. He voted to require that companies must give notice when they engage in hydraulic [[fracking]]; the measure failed, 19-73. He voted for the repeal of the anti-sodomy laws; the repea [[marijuana]]ailed, 22-67. He voted to authorize surrogacy contracts. He opposed reducing the penalties for the possession of marijuana. He voted to establish lifetime concealed carry gun permits and supported concealed-carry privileges in restaurants that sell alcoholic beverages. He voted against making information about permit holders a matter of public record. He voted in 2013 for an increase in judicial pay and supported the removal of the mandatory retirement age for state judges.

In 2014, Hazel co-sponsored the requirement that abortion providers have hospital admitting privileges near their clinics; the bill was approved by the full House, 88-5. In 2014, he voted against extending the time for implementation of the Common Core State Standards Initiative. He voted to prohibit the transportation of dogs in the beds of pick-up trucks while traveling on interstate highways; the measure passed the House, 53-34. He voted to require that companies must give notice when they engage in hydraulic [[fracking]]; the measure failed, 19-73. He voted for the repeal of the anti-sodomy laws; the repea [[marijuana]]ailed, 22-67. He voted to authorize surrogacy contracts. He opposed reducing the penalties for the possession of marijuana. He voted to establish lifetime concealed carry gun permits and supported concealed-carry privileges in restaurants that sell alcoholic beverages. He voted against making information about permit holders a matter of public record. He voted in 2013 for an increase in judicial pay and supported the removal of the mandatory retirement age for state judges.