Changes

Brinkhaus and his wife, the former Margaret Bellemin, have seven children. Margaret Brinkhaus is a native of Grand Coteau, another small town in St. Landry Parish. Like her husband, she graduated from nearby Sunset High School and subsequently received a degree from Maryville College in [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]]. In recent years, she has operated a bed and breakfast in a restored railroad complex and has been involved in the canning of jellies, jams, and relishes as well as numerous arts and crafts. The Brinkhauses attended St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Grand Coteau.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.louisianacrafts.org/artistdirectory/margaret-brinkhaus|title=Margaret Brinkhaus biography|publisher=louisianacrafts.org|accessdate=May 23, 2014; information no longer on-line}}</ref> Brinkhaus was a brother in-law of the late Republican state Representative [[Roderick Miller]], who was married to Brinkaus' sister, Anna Jane Brinkhaus Gaiennie Miller.<ref name=obit/>

Brinkhaus and his wife, the former Margaret Bellemin, have seven children. Margaret Brinkhaus is a native of Grand Coteau, another small town in St. Landry Parish. Like her husband, she graduated from nearby Sunset High School and subsequently received a degree from Maryville College in [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]]. In recent years, she has operated a bed and breakfast in a restored railroad complex and has been involved in the canning of jellies, jams, and relishes as well as numerous arts and crafts. The Brinkhauses attended St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Grand Coteau.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.louisianacrafts.org/artistdirectory/margaret-brinkhaus|title=Margaret Brinkhaus biography|publisher=louisianacrafts.org|accessdate=May 23, 2014; information no longer on-line}}</ref> Brinkhaus was a brother in-law of the late Republican state Representative [[Roderick Miller]], who was married to Brinkaus' sister, Anna Jane Brinkhaus Gaiennie Miller.<ref name=obit/>

Brinkhaus also managed to till two family farms and to play the [[piano]], [[saxophone]], and [[clarinet]].<ref name=lanewsbureau>{{cite web|url=https://www.lanewsbureau.com/inst/2000RS/HR/00/HR10_EN.PDF|title=House Resolution No. 10|adate=2000|accessdate=December 23, 2020}}</ref>

Brinkhaus also managed to till two family farms and to play the [[piano]], [[saxophone]], and [[clarinet]].<ref name=lanewsbureau>{{cite web|url=https://www.lanewsbureau.com/inst/2000RS/HR/00/HR10_EN.PDF|title=House Resolution No. 10|date=2000|accessdate=December 23, 2020}}</ref>

==Political career==

==Political career==

Brinkhaus chaired the Senate Education Committee and was a major promoter of his alma mater, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He authored legislation to establish special protection for school teachers facing acts of violence from  unruly pupils. His law created the crime of assault of a school teacher with an enhanced penalty. Brinkhaus worked to provide low interest loans for the purchase of school buses and greater operational allowances for bus drivers. He worked for increases in pay for teachers and support personnel as well as for additional supplements to retired educators. He led the effort to require that a teacher evaluation plan be developed by local school boards, rather than the Louisiana Department of Education.<ref name=lanewsbureau/>

Brinkhaus chaired the Senate Education Committee and was a major promoter of his alma mater, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He authored legislation to establish special protection for school teachers facing acts of violence from  unruly pupils. His law created the crime of assault of a school teacher with an enhanced penalty. Brinkhaus worked to provide low interest loans for the purchase of school buses and greater operational allowances for bus drivers. He worked for increases in pay for teachers and support personnel as well as for additional supplements to retired educators. He led the effort to require that a teacher evaluation plan be developed by local school boards, rather than the Louisiana Department of Education.<ref name=lanewsbureau/>

Brinkhaus also served at various times on the Senate Finance, Judiciary, and Agriculture committees.<ref name=acadiamuseum/> He sponsored legislation to halt the distribution of campaign contributions to legislators within the Louisiana State Capitol, the governor’s mansion, or any other state office building. He voted to require the disclosure of certain expenditures by persons who lobby the legislature and to require that individual legislators disclose the receipt of gifts of transportation, food, lodging, or entertainment.<ref name=lanewsbureau/>

Brinkhaus also served at various times on the Senate Finance, Judiciary, and Agriculture committees.<ref name=acadiamuseum/> He sponsored legislation to halt the distribution of campaign contributions to legislators within the Louisiana State Capitol, the governor's mansion, or any other state office building. He voted to require the disclosure of certain expenditures by persons who lobby the legislature and to require that individual legislators disclose the receipt of gifts of transportation, food, lodging, or entertainment.<ref name=lanewsbureau/>

After five terms in the state Senate, Brinkhaus lost his bid for reelection in 1995 to the Republican Tommy Casanova, a [[Louisiana State University]] [[football]] legend. Casanova polled 21,543 votes (57.7 percent);  Brinkhaus, 15,793 (42.3 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref>Casanova vacated the seat after one term.

After five terms in the state Senate, Brinkhaus lost his bid for reelection in 1995 to the Republican Tommy Casanova, a [[Louisiana State University]] [[football]] legend. Casanova polled 21,543 votes (57.7 percent);  Brinkhaus, 15,793 (42.3 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 21, 1995.</ref> Casanova vacated the seat after one term.

In addition to his legal practice, Brinkhaus was affiliated with Marta C Turksel Educational Consulting, location not specified.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelius.com/results.php?ReportType=1&formname=name&qf=Armand+&qmi=J&qn=Brinkhaus&qcs=Sunset%2C+LA&focusfirst=1|title=Armand J. Brinkhaus|publisher=intelius.com|accessdate=May 23, 2014; material no longer mentioned on-line}}</ref>

In addition to his legal practice, Brinkhaus was affiliated with Marta C Turksel Educational Consulting, location not specified.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelius.com/results.php?ReportType=1&formname=name&qf=Armand+&qmi=J&qn=Brinkhaus&qcs=Sunset%2C+LA&focusfirst=1|title=Armand J. Brinkhaus|publisher=intelius.com|accessdate=May 23, 2014; material no longer mentioned on-line}}</ref>