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'''William Edward Wheat, Jr.''' (born 1958), is a [[veterinarian]] from his native Ponchatoula in Tangipahoa Parish in southeastern [[Louisiana]] who is an incoming [[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative for District 73.

'''William Edward Wheat, Jr.''' (born 1958), is a [[veterinarian]] from his native Ponchatoula in Tangipahoa Parish in southeastern [[Louisiana]] who is an incoming [[Republican Party|Republican]] state representative for District 73.

In the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on October 12, 2019, Wheat handily defeated another Republicane, Michael Chatellier (born 1960), a veteran of the [[Afghanistan War]]. Both candidates graduated from Ponchatoula High School two years apart. Wheat attended [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]], but was accepted to the School of Veterinary Medicine before he could receive an undergraduate degree. Neither candidate had  previous political experience. Wheat has been a practicing veterinarian since 1983.<ref name=wwheat/>  

In the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on October 12, 2019, Wheat handily defeated another Republican, Michael Chatellier (born 1960), a veteran of the [[Afghanistan War]]. The two candidates graduated from Ponchatoula High School two years apart. Wheat attended [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]], but was accepted to the School of Veterinary Medicine before he could receive an undergraduate degree. Neither candidate had  previous political experience. Wheat has been a practicing veterinarian since 1983.<ref name=wwheat/>  

Wheat received 9,332 votes (77 percent) to  Chatellier's 2,732 (23 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 12, 2019. .</ref> On January 13, 2020, he will succeed the term-limited Republican Representative Steven Pugh, who was first elected in 2007.  

Wheat received 9,332 votes (77 percent) to  Chatellier's 2,732 (23 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 12, 2019. .</ref> On January 13, 2020, he will succeed the term-limited Republican Representative [[Stephen Pugh]], who was first elected in 2007.  

Wheat is a former president of the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association and chaired the Tangipahoa Mosquito Abatement District. He said in the campaign that he has no platform based on issues and narrow definitions, but instead hopes his “sense of achievement” in the community will convince voters to support him. "I’ve been a productive member of our community. I’m a person who has been able to identify the needs of our citizens, work toward resolutions of problems, and come to the table with solutions."<ref name=wwheat>{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_4236eeec-d10d-11e9-a147-0349f13bc0c6.html|title=Two Tangipahoa political outsiders square off for House District 73 seat|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=September 13, 2019|author=Jacqueline DeRobertis|accessdate=December 30, 2019}}</ref>

Wheat is a former president of the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association and chaired the Tangipahoa Mosquito Abatement District. He said in the campaign that he has no platform based on issues and narrow definitions, but instead hopes his “sense of achievement” in the community will convince voters to support him. "I’ve been a productive member of our community. I’m a person who has been able to identify the needs of our citizens, work toward resolutions of problems, and come to the table with solutions."<ref name=wwheat>{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_4236eeec-d10d-11e9-a147-0349f13bc0c6.html|title=Two Tangipahoa political outsiders square off for House District 73 seat|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=September 13, 2019|author=Jacqueline DeRobertis|accessdate=December 30, 2019}}</ref>