| Norbert Nolty "Norby" Chabert | |
 | |
| In office September 2009 – January 13, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Reggie Paul Dupre, Jr. |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Michael Fesi |
| Born | November 28, 1975 Lil Caillou, Terrebonne Parish Louisiana, USA |
| Political party | Democrat-turned-Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Single |
| Relations | Leonard J. Chabert (father)
Marty James Chabert (brother) |
| Alma mater | South Terrebonne High School (Bourg, Louisiana) Nicholls State University (Thibodaux, Louisiana) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Religion | Christian |
Norbert Nolty Chabert, known as Norby Chabert (born November 28, 1975),[1] is a former political consultant> from Houma, Louisiana, who served as a Republican state senator for District 20 in Terrebonne and Lafourches parishes. From 2009 to 2020, he held the same Senate seat occupied from 1980 to 1991 by his father, Leonard J. Chabert (1932-1991), and from 1992 to 1996 by his older brother, Marty James Chabert, both Democrats.[2]
Background
Chabert's parents, Leonard Chabert and the former Viona Lapeyrouse (born 1935), were both born in Chauvin in Terrebonne Parish. Norby Chabert was born and reared on the banks of Bayou Petite Caillou in the community of Lil Caillou in Terrebonne Parish. He graduated in 1994 from South Terrebonne High School in Bourg.[1]
In 2001, Norby Chabert received his Bachelor of Arts degree in government from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Prior to his entering the Senate, he was a political consultant, a businessman, and as associate director of marketing at Nicholls State. He is affiliated with Rotary International and the Chamber of Commerce. An active sportsman, he is single and resides in "Old Houma" near Maple Avenue Park. He describes his religious views as "Christian."[1]
Political career
Norbert Chabert himself was a Democrat until March 2011, when that same month he joined Jody Amedee of Gonzales in Ascension Parish in switching to GOP allegiance. The changes produced a numerical Republican majority in the upper legislative chamber. The preceding year, nearly 47 percent of Chabert's constituents who voted in the special election cast ballots for the defeated Republican candidate.[3] Chabert won the Senate seat in special election in the summer of 2009 to succeed Democrat Reginald Paul "Reggie" Dupre, Jr.[2] Chabert ran second in the contest with 4,359 votes (32.6 percent). Republican Brent Callais led with 5,055 votes (37.8 percent). A second Democrat, Damon Baldone, polled the critical 3,957 votes (29.6 percent).[4] In the second round of balloting, Chabert defeated Callais, 9,576 votes (54.3 percent) to 8,050 (45.7 percent).[3]
In 2010, Chabert voted to require sonograms for women contemplating abortion. He vote against allowing insurance companies to cover elective abortions. Chabert voted to impose penalties to those participating in cockfighting, a particularly sordid activity popular among some in Louisiana. He supported making the state tobacco tax permanent.[5] Chabert voted 55 percent of the time in 2010 with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. The Louisiana Family Forum gave him a 78 percent rating.[6] In 2011, Chabert voted against the congressional redistricting bill because Houma and Thibodaux have been split between the 1st and the 3rd congressional districts.[7]
Chabert ran unopposed for a second term in the Senate in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 22, 2011. He won his third Senate term in 2015 with 11,921 votes (51.1 percent) in a race against his fellow Republican Michael Fesi who polled 9,944 votes (42.6 percent). The remaining 1,456 ballots (6.2 percent) went to the No-Party candidate, Mark Atzenhoffer.[8] Fesi then rebounded to win the race to succeed Chabert in 2019.
On February 2, 2013, the Chaberts, Leonard J., Marty J., and Norbert N., were inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield, along with several others, including former Sheriff Leonard R. "Pop" Hataway of Grant Parish, state Senator Charles Clem Barham (1934-2010) of Ruston, and George Elyott Dement, Jr. (1922-2014), former mayor of Bossier City.[9]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Norby Chabert. ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved on April 2, 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Membership in the Louisiana State Senate, 1880 - Present. Louisiana State Senate. Retrieved on April 2, 2020.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Results, August 29, 2009.
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, August 1, 2009.
- ↑ Norby Chabert's Voting Records. Project Vote Smart. Retrieved on April 2, 2020.
- ↑ Norby Chabert's Ratings and Endorsements. Project Vote Smart. Retrieved on April 2, 2020.
- ↑ Legislature Passes Congressional Redistricting Bill, GOP Star Is Born. thehayride.com (April 13, 2011). Retrieved on April 2, 2020.
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 24, 2015.
- ↑ "2013 Louisiana Political Hall of Fame inductees announced," The Winn Parish Enterprise, November 20, 2012.