Edward M. Lambert Jr.

Lambert was born March 8, 1958, in Fall River, Massachusetts. He obtained a bachelor's degree in psychology from Southeastern Massachusetts University (now the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth) in 1981, and a master's degree in education and counseling from Bridgewater State University in 1984.{{Cite news|title=CAMPAIGN 2003 -- Fall River mayor's race|last=Staff|first=Herald News|date=September 14, 2003|work=The Herald News (Fall River, MA)}}

Lambert, a member on Fall River's Democratic City Committee, was first elected to the nonpartisan Fall River School Committee in 1979; he was reelected every two years for a total of five terms. In 1988, Lambert challenged and defeated State Rep. Charles E. Silvia (D-8th Bristol) in the Democratic primary for that office and was unopposed in the general election.{{Cite web|url=http://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/3760|title=PD43+ » 1988 State Representative Democratic Primary 8th Bristol District|website=PD43+|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-27}}{{Cite web|url=http://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/3762|title=PD43+ » 1988 State Representative General Election 8th Bristol District|website=PD43+|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-27}}

In 1990, Lambert was re-elected, defeating Republican Thomas Costello and again defeating former Representative Charles Silvia (running as an Independent) with over 73% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=http://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/4589|title=PD43+ » 1990 State Representative General Election 8th Bristol District|website=PD43+|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-27}} He was re-elected in 1992 and 1994 without opposition.{{Cite web|url=http://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/search/year_from:1990/year_to:1994/office_id:8/district_id:23656|title=PD43+ » Search Elections|website=PD43+|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-27}}

In 1995, Lambert entered the race for Mayor of Fall River, after incumbent Mayor John R. Mitchell decided not to seek reelection. Following the September preliminary, Lambert defeated former City Councillor Cathy Ann Viveiros with almost 65% of the vote in the November election.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/article/20080513/NEWS/305139517|title=Viveiros says she's not eyeing mayor's office|last=Holtzman|first=Michael|website=Wicked Local|language=en|access-date=2019-01-27}} He was re-elected in 1997 against token opposition, and defeated City Council President William F. Whitty (who would succeed him as Acting Mayor) in 1999. In 2001, he was re-elected to a fourth term against local restaurateur Paul R. Viveiros, which centered largely around the latter's attempt to operate an adult entertainment club within city limits, which was opposed by city government.W. FREEMAN, M. (2001, November 4). Man with a mission takes on a veteran pol. Herald News, The (Fall River, MA). Available from NewsBank: https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/12DFACEEBB54B880 .{{Cite web|url=http://www.heraldnews.com/article/20090519/NEWS/305199098|title=Camara group unveils new strip club plan|last=Holtzman|first=Michael|website=The Herald News, Fall River, MA|language=en|access-date=2019-01-27}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/article/20011107/News/311079991|title=Lambert easily wins fourth term in Fall River|last=Brown|first=CURT|website=southcoasttoday.com|language=en|access-date=2019-01-27}} Lambert's most narrow win came in 2003, winning by only 903 votes against local Portuguese language translator, F. George Jacome, who was seen as having stronger ties to that large constituency. After a term of outreach, as well as added support due to his fight against attempts by Hess Corporation to locate an LNG facility in the city, Lambert defeated Jacome with 61% of the vote in a rematch of their previous race.{{Cite web|url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/article/20051109/news/311099981|title=Lambert rides LNG opposition to re-election in Fall River|last=BARNES|first=JENNETTE|website=southcoasttoday.com|language=en|access-date=2019-01-27}}

In 2007, Lambert declined to run for reelection, resigning from office on October 26 to take a position as Director of UMass Dartmouth's Urban Initiative. The timing of his resignation was motivated in part by the fact that the Fall River Charter allows for the City Council President (Whitty at the time) to temporarily fill a mayoral vacancy. As Whitty was a candidate for mayor, the potential of his serving as mayor was considered an unfair advantage by Lambert, though this was moot after Whitty's defeat in the preliminary election.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/article/20130612/NEWS/306129428|title=Former Fall River Mayor Lambert joining UMass Boston|last=Goode|first=Jo C.|website=Wicked Local|language=en|access-date=2019-01-27}}

Lambert was married for twenty years to Mary (Ciullo) Lambert, until her death on Christmas Day 2005, less than one month after his final reelection campaign; he has one son, James. Lambert remarried in 2008 to Ava Assad and they have a son, Max.{{Cite web|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/globe/obituaries/articles/2005/12/30/mary_lambert_wife_of_fall_river_mayor/|title=Mary Lambert, wife of Fall River mayor - The Boston Globe|website=archive.boston.com|language=en|access-date=2019-01-27}}

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Category:1958 births

Category:20th-century mayors of places in Massachusetts

Category:21st-century mayors of places in Massachusetts

Category:Democratic Party members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives

Category:Mayors of Fall River, Massachusetts

Category:University of Massachusetts Dartmouth alumni

Category:Bridgewater State University alumni

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century members of the Massachusetts General Court