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'''Eddie Joseph Lambert''' (born February 16, 1956)<ref name=cong>{{cite web|url=http://www.congress.org/bio/id/141542|title=Rep. Eddie Lambert|publisher=congress.org|accessdate=July 16, 2011}}</ref> is an [[attorney]] from Prairieville, [[Louisiana]],<ref name=cong/> who is the state senator for District 18, which encompasses Ascension, Livingston, St. James, and St. John the Baptist parishes. He is a former state representative for District 59 in Ascension Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://house.louisiana.gov/H_PDFdocs/HouseMembership_History_CURRENT.pdf|title=Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=October 14, 2019}}</ref>​

'''Eddie Joseph Lambert''' (born February 16, 1956)<ref name=cong>{{cite web|url=http://www.congress.org/bio/id/141542|title=Rep. Eddie Lambert|publisher=congress.org|accessdate=July 16, 2011}}</ref> is an [[attorney]] from Prairieville, [[Louisiana]],<ref name=cong/> who is the state senator for District 18, which encompasses Ascension, Livingston, St. James, and St. John the Baptist parishes. He is a former state representative for District 59 in Ascension Parish.<ref>{{ (Ascension Parish)|publisher=Louisiana House of Representatives|accessdate=October 14, 2019}}</ref>​

 

When term-limited in the House, Lambert ran without opposition for his Senate seat, which was vacated by the term-limited Jody Amedee, another Republican, in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 24, 2015.

When term-limited in the House, Lambert ran without opposition for his Senate seat, which was vacated by the term-limited Jody Amedee, another Republican, in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 24, 2015.

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The son of Elmo and Concetta Lucia Lambert, Eddie Lambert was born<ref name=cong/> and reared in [[Baton Rouge]], where he graduated in 1974 from Istrouma High School and played [[football]] and [[baseball]].<ref name=lambert>{{cite web|url=http://eddielambert.com/about.h}}</ref> He then graduated from [[Louisiana State University]]. In 1982, he procured the [[Juris Doctor]]ate degree from the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center. Prior to establishing his law practice, Lambert worked as an [[alligator]] hunter for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.<ref name=votesmart>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=35405|title=Rep. Eddie J. Lambert (LA)|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=July 16, 2011}}</ref> Over the years, he continued his small business of rasing crawfish. He is a member of Ducks Unlimited and the [[National Rifle Association]].<ref name=lambert/>​l

The son of Elmo and Concetta Lucia Lambert, Eddie Lambert was born<ref name=cong/> and reared in [[Baton Rouge]], where he graduated in 1974 from Istrouma High School and played [[football]] and [[basebal]]l.<ref name=lambert>{{cite web|url=http://eddielambert.com/about.h] from [[Louisiana State University]]. In 1982, he procured the [[Juris Doctor]]ate degree from the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center. Prior to establishing his law practice, Lambert worked as an [[alligator]] hunter for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.<ref name=votesmart>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=35405|title=Rep. Eddie J. Lambert (LA)|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=July 16, 2011}}</ref> Over the years, he continued his small business of rasing crawfish. He is a member of Ducks Unlimited and the [[National Rifle Association]].<ref name=lambert/>​l

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Lambert's law firm, Lambert & Lambert, located in Gonzales though his residence is in Prairieville, specializes in Personal Injury, Criminal, Civil, Criminal Law, and Civil Law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://local.yahoo.com/info-18244209-lambert-eddie-j-lambert-lambert-gonzales|title=Lambert, Eddie J. - Lambert & Lambert|publisher=yahoo.com|accessdate=July 16, 2011}}</ref> Lambert began his law practice in 1985 and for a time was an assistant district attorney in the 23rd Judicial District. He refers to himself as a former "hard-nosed prosecutor."<ref name=lambert/>​

Lambert's law firm, Lambert & Lambert, located in Gonzales though his residence is in Prairieville, specializes in Personal Injury, Criminal, Civil, Criminal Law, and Civil Law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://local.yahoo.com/info-18244209-lambert-eddie-j-lambert-lambert-gonzales|title=Lambert, Eddie J. - Lambert & Lambert|publisher=yahoo.com|accessdate=July 16, 2011}}</ref> Lambert began his law practice in 1985 and for a time was an assistant district attorney in the 23rd Judicial District. He refers to himself as a former "hard-nosed prosecutor."<ref name=lambert/>​

==Legislative career==​

==Legislative career==​

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Lambert was elected to the House in 2003, when he upset the incumbent Republican [[Juba Diez]]. In the primary, Lambert and another Republican, George Cabanas, polled 6,581 votes (42.4 percent) and 3,002 (19.3 percent), respectively, as Diez trailed with 5,950 (38.3 percent.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> In the [[general election]] on November 15, 2003, Lambert topped Diez, 9,601 votes (57.7 percent) to 7,026 (42.3 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 15, 2003.</ref> As a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] in 1999, Diez had polled 63 percent of the primary vote against another Democrat, Jeff Burns.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 23, 1999.</ref> ​

Lambert was elected to the House in 2003, when he upset the incumbent Republican Juba Diez. In the primary, Lambert and another Republican, George Cabanas, polled 6,581 votes (42.4 percent) and 3,002 (19.3 percent), respectively, as Diez trailed with 5,950 (38.3 percent.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> In the [[general election]] on November 15, 2003, Lambert topped Diez, 9,601 votes (57.7 percent) to 7,026 (42.3 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 15, 2003.</ref> As a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] in 1999, Diez had polled 63 percent of the primary vote against another Democrat, Jeff Burns.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 23, 1999.</ref> ​

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In 2007, Lambert was reelected to the House without opposition. He was the vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and the Subcommittee on Education. He was a member of the committees on the Budget and Natural Resources and Environment as well as the subcommittees on Business Development and Litigation.<ref name=votesmart/>​

In 2007, Lambert was reelected to the House without opposition. He was the vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and the Subcommittee on Education. He was a member of the committees on the Budget and Natural Resources and Environment as well as the subcommittees on Business Development and Litigation.<ref name=votesmart/>​

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In 2011, Lambert voted with the House majority to make the Louisiana [[cigarette tax]] permanent. He then voted to override a veto by then Governor [[Bobby Jindal]], who killed the permanent cigarette tax. The veto override failed to gain the two-thirds needed vote of the state House. Lambert voted to prohibit the holding of hand-held cellular devices while driving, another measure which failed. In 2010, he was ranked 100 percent by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, but only 58 percent in 2008-2009 by the Louisiana National Federation of Independent Business.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=35405|title=Rep. Eddie J. Lambert (LA)|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=July 16, 2011}}</ref> Lambert, considered a strong [[conservative]] focused on extending and improving the road network in House District 59. Lambert favoed requiring lawmakers and local officials to disclose their personal incomes.<ref name=mlgs>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobilelgs.com/LambertEddieJ.html|title=Rep. Lambert, Eddie J.|publisher=mobilelgs.com|accessdate=July 16, 2011}}</ref>​

In 2011, Lambert voted with the House majority to make the Louisiana [[cigarette]] tax permanent. He then voted to override a veto by then Governor [[Bobby Jindal]], who killed the permanent cigarette tax. The veto override failed to gain the two-thirds needed vote of the state House. Lambert voted to prohibit the holding of hand-held cellular devices while driving, another measure which failed. In 2010, he was ranked 100 percent by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, but only 58 percent in 2008-2009 by the Louisiana National Federation of Independent Business.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=35405|title=Rep. Eddie J. Lambert (LA)|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=July 16, 2011}}</ref> Lambert, considered a strong [[conservative]] focused on extending and improving the road network in House District 59. Lambert favoed requiring lawmakers and local officials to disclose their personal incomes.<ref name=mlgs>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobilelgs.com/LambertEddieJ.html|title=Rep. Lambert, Eddie J.|publisher=mobilelgs.com|accessdate=July 16, 2011}}</ref>​

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Most of Ascension Parish falls within House District 59, located on the east bank of the [[Mississippi River]] and among the fastest-growing areas of the state. Former farmlands have become suburbia, with residents from Baton Rouge fleeing urban problems but still plagued by floods and hurricanes. Gonzales is a major retail center, with a large outlet mall nearby but outside the House district. Ascension Parish still has many working-class residents employed in construction and petrochemical plants, but the influence of [[organized labor]] there has declined in recent years. Suburban development has brought more middle-class residents who commute to administrative, government. and professional positions in Baton Rouge.<ref name=mlgs/>​

Most of Ascension Parish falls within House District 59, located on the east bank of the [[Mississippi River]] and among the fastest-growing areas of the state. Former farmlands have become suburbia, with residents from Baton Rouge fleeing urban problems but still plagued by floods and hurricanes. Gonzales is a major retail center, with a large outlet mall nearby but outside the House district. Ascension Parish still has many working-class residents employed in construction and petrochemical plants, but the influence of [[organized labor]] there has declined in recent years. Suburban development has brought more middle-class residents who commute to administrative, government. and professional positions in Baton Rouge.<ref name=mlgs/>​