Changes

|spouse=Susan Marie Simpson Waddell (married 1971-2025, his death)

|spouse=Susan Marie Simpson Waddell (married 1971-2025, his death)

|children=Gregory Leo "Greg" Waddell<br>

|children=Gregory Leo "Greg" Waddell<br>

Riley Waddell

Riley Waddell<br>

Oliver Leo and Martha Leiendecker Waddell

|party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]

|party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]

|occupation=[[Business]]man

|occupation=[[Business]]man

==Political life==

==Political life==

Mrs. Waddell, also a Republican, is a Caddo Parish Justice of the Peace whose current term expires on December 31, 2026.<ref>Elected Officials (la.gov), Caddo Parish officials, accessed April 29, 2021.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Waddell.Susan.Justice.of.The.Peace.318-868-9003 |title=Waddell, Susan, Justice of the Peace |publisher=merchantcircle.com |accessdate=April 29, 2021}}</ref> Wayne Waddell was also a JP for nearly two years prior to his legislative service. He is also a former member of the elected Caddo Parish Commission, formerly known as the police jury, on which he served for the term from 1992 to 1996.

Mrs. Waddell, also a Republican, is a former Caddo Parish Justice of the Peace.<ref>Elected Officials (la.gov), Caddo Parish officials, accessed April 29, 2021.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Waddell.Susan.Justice.of.The.Peace.318-868-9003 |title=Waddell, Susan, Justice of the Peace |publisher=merchantcircle.com |accessdate=April 29, 2021}}</ref> Wayne Waddell was also a JP for nearly two years prior to his legislative service. He is also a former member of the elected Caddo Parish Commission, formerly known as the police jury, on which he served for the term from 1992 to 1996.

Waddell first won his position as a state representative in a [[special election]] runoff held on December 13, 1997, to replace Shreveport representative-turned-Judge [[Roy Brun]]. He defeated fellow Republican and former Caddo Parish School Board member, the [[conservative]] Judy Boykin, supported by the [[Christian Coalition]]. Waddell polled 2,710 votes (54 percent) to Boykin's, 2,278 (46 percent).  In the legislature, he served on the Health and Welfare committee, House Legislative Services Council, Joint Legislative Committee on Capital Outlay, House Special Committee on Disaster Planning, and the Middle and North Louisiana Subcommittee. He has been vice chair of the Louisiana Rural Caucus. Waddell brought early voting to Louisiana, empowering parish clerks of court to permit voting in shopping centers and public buildings where voters congregate. Previously, Louisiana had more restrictive absentee voting, which required an excuse to cast a ballot prior to the election. Waddell supported a plan to exempt Louisiana residents from owing state income taxes on retirement payments.

Waddell first won his position as a state representative in a [[special election]] runoff held on December 13, 1997, to replace Shreveport representative-turned-Judge [[Roy Brun]]. He defeated fellow Republican and former Caddo Parish School Board member, the [[conservative]] Judy Boykin, supported by the [[Christian Coalition]]. Waddell polled 2,710 votes (54 percent) to Boykin's, 2,278 (46 percent).  In the legislature, he served on the Health and Welfare committee, House Legislative Services Council, Joint Legislative Committee on Capital Outlay, House Special Committee on Disaster Planning, and the Middle and North Louisiana Subcommittee. He has been vice chair of the Louisiana Rural Caucus. Waddell brought early voting to Louisiana, empowering parish clerks of court to permit voting in shopping centers and public buildings where voters congregate. Previously, Louisiana had more restrictive absentee voting, which required an excuse to cast a ballot prior to the election. Waddell supported a plan to exempt Louisiana residents from owing state income taxes on retirement payments.

On August 1, 2010, Waddell resigned from the legislature to assume the position of director of the state Exhibit Museum in Shreveport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.friendsoflsem.org/node/25|title=Staff at the Louisiana Exhibit Museum|publisher=friendsoflsem.org|accessdate=July 11, 2011}}</ref> The museum directorship was vacated by [[Forrest Dunn]], himself a former member of the Louisiana House. Waddell was succeeded in his former office by Republican attorney [[Alan Seabaugh]].<ref>"Seabaugh wins LA House seat from Shreveport area," =WXVT, accessed October 2, 2010; no longer accessible on-line.</ref>

On August 1, 2010, Waddell resigned from the legislature to assume the position of director of the state Exhibit Museum in Shreveport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.friendsoflsem.org/node/25|title=Staff at the Louisiana Exhibit Museum|publisher=friendsoflsem.org|accessdate=July 11, 2011}}</ref> The museum directorship was vacated by [[Forrest Dunn]], himself a former member of the Louisiana House. Waddell was succeeded in his former office by Republican attorney [[Alan Seabaugh]].

In addition to the Shreveport museum, Waddell was the regional state administrator under former Louisiana Secretary of State [[Tom Schedler]], in which capacity he oversaw six other state museums. From 2010 through 2015, he secured $8 million from the Louisiana capital outlay budget for three construction projects, one of which is the covering for the museum courtyard. Waddell has also stressed fundraising and interactive and educational experiences for museum visitors and visitors. State Senator [[Greg Tarver]], a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], said that Waddell "knows how to go out and beg for money, and you literally have to beg ... It is not an easy task. And, he gives you information you need to know so (you) can make an intelligent decision about money.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2016/02/09/wayne-waddell-legacy-list-million-three-construction-projects-louisiana-state-exhibit-museum/80074008/|title=Wayne Waddell legacy list: $8 million for three construction projects for Louisiana State Exhibit Museum|date=February 9, 2016|author=Maggie Martin|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=April 29, 2021}}</ref>

In addition to the Shreveport museum, Waddell was the regional state administrator under former Louisiana Secretary of State [[Tom Schedler]], in which capacity he oversaw six other state museums. From 2010 through 2015, he secured $8 million from the Louisiana capital outlay budget for three construction projects, one of which is the covering for the museum courtyard. Waddell has also stressed fundraising and interactive and educational experiences for museum visitors and visitors. State Senator [[Greg Tarver]], a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], said that Waddell "knows how to go out and beg for money, and you literally have to beg ... It is not an easy task. And, he gives you information you need to know so (you) can make an intelligent decision about money.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2016/02/09/wayne-waddell-legacy-list-million-three-construction-projects-louisiana-state-exhibit-museum/80074008/|title=Wayne Waddell legacy list: $8 million for three construction projects for Louisiana State Exhibit Museum|date=February 9, 2016|author=Maggie Martin|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=April 29, 2021}}</ref>

[[Category:State Representatives]]

[[Category:State Representatives]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Republicans]]