Changes

==Background==

==Background==

Gaudin (pronounced GO DAN) was born in New Roads  in Pointe Coupee Parish (pronounced COO PEE) to Mr. and Mrs. Alton F. Gaudin. Gaudin's mother was reared in Ventress, also in Pointe Coupee Parish.  

Gaudin (pronounced GO DAN) was born in New Roads  in Pointe Coupee Parish (pronounced COO PEE) to Mr. and Mrs. Alton F. Gaudin. Gaudin's mother was reared in Ventress, also in Pointe Coupee Parish.

 

Gaudin graduated in 1948 from the parochial St. Joseph's Academy in New Roads. He then received his bachelor's degree from [[Louisiana State University]] in Baton Rouge in 1952. Thereafter, he entered the [[United States Army]] as a second lieutenant on an [[ROTC]] commission. He left the service in 1954 as a first lieutenant but remained a major in the Army Reserve for another decade thereafter. Gaudin graduated from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU with a [[Juris Doctor]]ate in 1958.

==Gaudin wins six legislative elections==​

==Gaudin wins six legislative elections==​

Gaudin won a 1967 [[special election]] created by the resignation of Democratic lawmaker Luther F. Cole, who became a [[judge]]. He defeated Democrat Richard E. Cheek, 9,856 votes (50.3 percent) to 9,730 (49.7 percent) in a [[special election]] for the one-year unexpired term. In his first year in the legislature, Gaudin served with three other Republicans, Morley Alvin Hudson (1917-2001) and Taylor W. O'Hearn (1907-1997), both of [[Shreveport]] and [[Roderick Miller]] of [[Lafayette], all of whom are deceased. Gaudin was defeated for a four-year term in 1968, with Richard Cheek claiming victory after defeat the previous year. O'Hearn was also defeated; Hudson did not seek reelection, and Miller lost in a bid for the Louisiana State Senate. Gaudin rebounded in 1972 to win the first of five consecutive terms. From 1970 to 1972, there was only one Republican in the 105-meber Louisiana House, the New Orleans attorney James Sutterfield, who won a special election to fill the vacancy created by the election of Nat G. Kiefer to the state Senate.​

Gaudin won a 1967 [[special election]] created by the resignation of Democratic lawmaker Luther F. Cole, who became a [[judge]]. He defeated Democrat Richard E. Cheek, 9,856 votes (50.3 percent) to 9,730 (49.7 percent) in a [[special election]] for the one-year unexpired term. In his first year in the legislature, Gaudin served with three other Republicans, Morley Alvin Hudson (1917-2001) and Taylor W. O'Hearn (1907-1997), both of [[Shreveport]] and [[Roderick Miller]] of [[Lafayette], all of whom are deceased. Gaudin was defeated for a four-year term in 1968, with Richard Cheek claiming victory after defeat the previous year. O'Hearn was also defeated; Hudson did not seek reelection, and Miller lost in a bid for the Louisiana State Senate. Gaudin rebounded in 1972 to win the first of five consecutive terms. From 1970 to 1972, there was only one Republican in the 105-meber Louisiana House, the New Orleans attorney James Sutterfield, who won a special election to fill the vacancy created by the election of Nat G. Kiefer to the state Senate.​

 

In 1972, Gaudin benefited from the presence of Republican [[Governor|gubernatorial]] candidate [[David C. Treen]], a Baton Rouge native then residing in Jefferson Parish in [[suburb]]an [[New Orleans]]. Gaudin unseated the Democrat Lillian W. Walker (1923-2016), 6,949 (51 percent) to 6,645 (49 percent). Thereafter, Gaudin won comparatively easy victories to hold his seat. When Gaudin was reelected in 1975 in the first ever nonpartisan blanket primary in Louisiana. He had only four incoming Republican colleagues, and one of those, Abel John "A. J." McNamara (1936-2014) of Jefferson Parish, had been elected as a Democrat but switched affiliation in 1977.​

In 1972, Gaudin benefited from the presence of Republican [[Governor|gubernatorial]] candidate [[David C. Treen]], a Baton Rouge native then residing in Jefferson Parish in [[suburb]]an [[New Orleans]]. Gaudin unseated the Democrat Lillian W. Walker (1923-2016), 6,949 (51 percent) to 6,645 (49 percent). Thereafter, Gaudin won comparatively easy victories to hold his seat. When Gaudin was reelected in 1975 in the first ever nonpartisan blanket primary in Louisiana. He had only four incoming Republican colleagues, and one of those, Abel John "A. J." McNamara (1936-2014) of Jefferson Parish, had been elected as a Democrat but switched affiliation in 1977.​

 

In his last election for the District 69 seat, which then encompassed the Jefferson Street area and Tara subdivision, in 1987, Gaudin polled 48 percent in the primary and was forced into a [[general election]] (often called the "runoff" in Louisiana) with the Democrat Marilyn Barfield. He then won by a comfortable margin, 7,370 (58 percent) to 5,441 (42 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 21, 1987.</ref> Gaudin did not run again in the 1991 primary, but his seat remained in Republican hands with the general election victory of [[Chuck McMains]],<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 16, 1991.</ref> who later left the legislature and ran unsuccessfully for the [[United States Senate]] in the 1996 primary. District 69 was dismembered by the legislature after Gaudin announced that he would not seek reelection. A portion of the base of the district was moved into District 68.​

In his last election for the District 69 seat, which then encompassed the Jefferson Street area and Tara subdivision, in 1987, Gaudin polled 48 percent in the primary and was forced into a [[general election]] (often called the "runoff" in Louisiana) with the Democrat Marilyn Barfield. He then won by a comfortable margin, 7,370 (58 percent) to 5,441 (42 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 21, 1987.</ref> Gaudin did not run again in the 1991 primary, but his seat remained in Republican hands with the general election victory of [[Chuck McMains]],<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 16, 1991.</ref> who later left the legislature and ran unsuccessfully for the [[United States Senate]] in the 1996 primary. District 69 was dismembered by the legislature after Gaudin announced that he would not seek reelection. A portion of the base of the district was moved into District 68.​

 

Despite his success in legislative races, Gaudin narrowly failed in a bid for a judgeship of the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge. In an election held on December 8, 1990, Gaudin received 16,944 votes (48.7 percent) compared to his Democrat opponent, Linda Holliday, who finished successfully with 17,857 votes (51.3 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, December 8, 1990.</ref>​

Despite his success in legislative races, Gaudin narrowly failed in a bid for a judgeship of the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge. In an election held on December 8, 1990, Gaudin received 16,944 votes (48.7 percent) compared to his Democrat opponent, Linda Holliday, who finished successfully with 17,857 votes (51.3 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, December 8, 1990.</ref>​

​

​

==Medical marijuana bill==

==Medical marijuana bill==

In his last legislative session, Gaudin attempted to revive Louisiana's medical [[marijuana]] law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20021125162636/http://www.mpp.org/LA/news_2000.html|title=The Best Medicine?|publisher=Gambit Weekly via Marijuana Policy Project|date=November 5, 2002|first=Eileen Loh Harrist|quote=In 1991, another lawmaker took a stab at reviving Louisiana's medical-marijuana law. Rep. Clark Gaudin, R-Baton Rouge, introduced the bill after a young man rolled into Gaudin's office in his wheelchair to talk to the lawmaker about his reliance on pot.|accessdate=October 21, 2019}}</ref>

In his last legislative session, Gaudin attempted to revive Louisiana's medical [[marijuana]] law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20021125162636/http://www.mpp.org/LA/news_2000.html|title=The Best Medicine?|publisher=Gambit Weekly via Marijuana Policy Project|date=November 5, 2002|first=Eileen Loh Harrist|quote=In 1991, another lawmaker took a stab at reviving Louisiana's medical-marijuana law. Rep. Clark Gaudin, R-Baton Rouge, introduced the bill after a young man rolled into Gaudin's office in his wheelchair to talk to the lawmaker about his reliance on pot.|accessdate=October 21, 2019}}</ref>