Chris Broadwater

Christopher Douglas "Chris" Broadwater
Louisiana State Representative for District 86 (Tangipahoa Parish)
In office January 2012 – December 2017
Preceded by	James Wilton "Jim" Tucker
Succeeded by	Nicholas Muscarello, Jr.
Born	March 22, 1972 St. Francisville, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Hilaria Nelson Broadwater
Children	Four daughters
Alma mater	Louisiana College New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Louisiana State University Law School
Religion	Southern Baptist

Christopher Douglas Broadwater, known as Chris Broadwater (born March 22, 1972),^[1] is an attorney in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who is a Republican former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 86, which encompasses within Tangipahoa Parish the communities of Independence, Tickfaw, Natalbany, and northwestern Hammond, Broadwater's city of residence.

A native of St. Francisville in West Feliciana Parish, Broadwater graduated from Rapides High School in Lecompte (pronounced LE COUNT) in Rapides Parish.^[1] In 2011, he listed his key campaign issues as economic development and education. He said that his experience gained in both the private sector and as the former director of the office of workers compensation would give him an early advantage as a legislator. Broadwater promised to pursue a balanced state budget. As the former head of a state agency, he developed and managed a $62 million departmental budget during the first term of Republican Governor Bobby Jindal.[2]

Broadwater won the seat in a low-turnout general election held on November 19, 2011. He defeated fellow Republican George Holton, 2,800 (56.9 percent) to 2,125 (43.2 percent).^[2]

Broadwater is a 1995 graduate of Southern Baptist-affiliated Louisiana College in Pineville. He then graduated in 1998 from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. In 2002, he received his Juris Doctor from the Louisiana State University Law Center in Baton Rouge.^[3]

Broadwater and his wife, the former Hilaria Nelson, have four daughters, Emma Grace, Rose Kathron, Maggie Frances, and Ruby Jane.^[3] On election day, October 22, 2011, Broadwater was taken to an emergency room to have a chicken bone surgically removed from his throat. Following the surgery, his wife gave birth to Ruby Jane.^[4]

In December 2017, Broadwater abruptly resigned his legislative seat. On February 26, 2018, radio talk show host Moon Griffon said that Broadwater is accepting some kind of government job. A long-time Broadwater critic, Griffon said he considers Broadwater, a Moderate Republican, more "Democrat" than "Republican."^[5]

Three Republicans and a Democrat competed in a special election to choose Broadwater's House successor on February 17, 2018. Only 16 percent of registered voters came to the polls. The two top-finishing Republicans, both from Hammond, now head into a March 24 runoff. Nicholas Muscarello, Jr. (born July 2, 1974), led the field with 1,732 votes (43 percent); David Philip Vial (born July 2, 1952) trailed with 1,613 (40 percent). The Democrat Michael A Showers polled 495 votes (12 percent), and still another Republican, "Andy" Anderson held 204 ballots (5 percent).^[6] In the second balloting, Muscarello defeated Vial, 53-47 percent.

In March 2018, Broadwater was named vice president of workforce policy for the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. He has previous experience with the Louisiana Workforce Commission.^[7]

References[edit]