Changes

==Background==

==Background==

​

​

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 [[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/>

 

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 has referred to himself as a former "hard-nosed prosecutor."<ref name=lambert/>

==Personal life==​

==Personal life==​

Lambert and his wife, the former Marilyn Montgomery, married in 1985. Originally from Port Gibson, [[Mississippi]], she graduated from [[Mississippi State University]] at Starkville with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. Like her husband, she is a graduate of the LSU Law School. She was the 2011 vice president of Delta Gamma in Baton Rouge, a member of Rotary Internationa], and an Ascension Parish judge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brdgalumnae.com/officers.html|title=Chapter Officers: Delta Gamma alumnae|publisher=brdgalumnae.com|accessdate=July 16, 2011}}</ref>  

Lambert and his wife, the former Marilyn Montgomery, married in 1985. Originally from Port Gibson, [[Mississippi]], she graduated from [[Mississippi State University]] at Starkville with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. Like her husband, she is a graduate of the LSU Law School. She was the 2011 vice president of Delta Gamma in Baton Rouge, a member of Rotary Internationa], and an Ascension Parish judge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brdgalumnae.com/officers.html|title=Chapter Officers: Delta Gamma alumnae|publisher=brdgalumnae.com|accessdate=July 16, 2011}}</ref>  

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/>​

​

​

Near the end of the 2011 legislative session, Lambert sponsored a successful bill which returned the Louisiana U.S. presidential [[primary]] date from February, when it was held in 2008, to March, the date in and prior to 2004. Lambert's colleague, [[Alan Seabaugh]] of [[Shreveport]], said that without the measure, signed by Governor Jindal, Louisiana would have forfeited half its delegates at the 2012 [[Republican National Convention]], which met in [[Tampa]], [[Florida]]. None of the Louisiana Democratic delegates in 2012 would have been eligible to cast convention ballots at the convention in [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]], [[North Carolina]], unless the date were returned to March. The measure hence switches the date of the primary to the third Saturday after the first Tuesday in March. Lambert, who has sought to tighten drunk-driving laws,<ref name=mlgs/> attached a [[rider (legislation)|rider]] to the presidential primary bill which clarifies the drinking age for underage boaters on Louisiana waterways.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrkf.org/batonrouge&newsID=1633|title=Tegan Wendland, "La.'s Presidential Primaries Pusheb Back," June 30, 2011|publisher=wrkf.org|accessdate=July 16, 2011}}</ref>​

Near the end of the 2011 legislative session, Lambert sponsored a successful bill which returned the Louisiana U.S. presidential [[primary]] date from February, when it was held in 2008, to March, the date in and prior to 2004. Lambert's colleague, [[Alan Seabaugh]] of [[Shreveport]], said that without the measure, signed by Governor Jindal, Louisiana would have forfeited half its delegates at the 2012 [[Republican National Convention]], which met in [[Tampa]], [[Florida]]. None of the Louisiana Democratic delegates in 2012 would have been eligible to cast convention ballots at the convention in [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]], [[North Carolina]], unless the date were returned to March. The measure hence switches the date of the primary to the third Saturday after the first Tuesday in March. Lambert, who has sought to tighten drunk-driving laws,<ref name=mlgs/> attached a rider to the presidential primary bill to itle=Tegan Wendland, "La.'s Presidential Primaries Pusheb Back," June 30, 2011|publisher=wrkf.org|accessdate=July 16, 2011}}</ref>​

​

​

Lambert won a third House term in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 22, 2011. Since taking office in 2004, Lambert pushed for the four-laning  of Louisiana Highway 42 in Prairieville. The previous highway was two-laned and had open ditches on both sides of the roadway.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theadvocate.com/home/8129684-125/long-awaited-la-42-work|title=David J. Mitchell, Sewer, utility work for four-lane highway to begin next month|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=January 21, 2014}}</ref>​

Lambert won a third House term in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 22, 2011. Since taking office in 2004, Lambert pushed for the four-laning  of Louisiana Highway 42 in Prairieville. The previous highway was two-laned and had open ditches on both sides of the roadway.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theadvocate.com/home/8129684-125/long-awaited-la-42-work|title=David J. Mitchell, Sewer, utility work for four-lane highway to begin next month|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|accessdate=January 21, 2014}}</ref>​