 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Edward M. Lambert, Jr. has served as Mayor of Fall River since January of 1996. Previous to his serving as Mayor, he was a social worker, employed by St. Vincent's Children's Center in Fall River from 1977 to 1988. Ed Lambert left his position as Director of Social Services at St. Vincent's when he was elected to serve as a State Representative, a post that he held for seven years before successfully running for Mayor.
As a State Representative, Ed Lambert put his background in social work to good use as he always fought for legislation to protect our children. Serving as a member of the Fall River School Committee from 1980-1989 helped make Ed very knowledgeable on the issue of education. During his time at the State House, Ed Lambert co-authored the Education Reform Bill, wrote legislation to create the Massachusetts Secretary of Education position and created legislation that moved Southeastern Massachusetts University into the University of Massachusetts system. On economic development issues he did much, including writing the initial legislation to create economic opportunity zones. On senior issues, he worked diligently for 2.5 years as Co-Chair of the Elder Caucus and led 85 fellow representatives on important senior issues, including reforming the Medigap insurance system.
When Ed Lambert first took office, the City of Fall River was confronted with a number of problems. The city was facing a $6.5 million budget deficit that threatened to put Fall River into state receivership. In about 18 months, Mayor Lambert turned the city's budget deficit into a $1.9 million surplus. Moody's and Standard & Poor's have continuously upgraded the city's bond rating since Ed Lambert has been Mayor of Fall River. Mayor Lambert has worked hard to create a business friendly atmosphere in the city, stressed the importance of economic development and worked well with many people including the Fall River Office of Economic Development. This has led to a diversification of the economy from an overly heavy reliance on the manufacturing sector and as a result, unemployment figures have been much lower than the historical norm for the city.
Mayor Lambert continues to work with everyone who is willing in order to move the city forward. Working in partnership with the city's large Portuguese community, the Mayor has been involved with initiatives like Ponta Delgada Boulevard, the statue of poet Joao Texeira de Medeiros at Heritage State Park and restoration of the Prince Henry the Navigator statue on Eastern Avenue just to name a few. The Portas da Cidade or Gates of the City project which will be placed on Ponta Delgada Boulevard along the city's waterfront is yet another project that the Mayor is working on at this time.
The Mayor has sought to vastly improve the infrastructure of the city by investing in sidewalk and street repair and other roadwork at unprecedented levels. He has also sought to revitalize Kennedy Park and to bring it back to its former glory. He has instituted the 42/7 plan, an initiative that will replace 42 miles worth of water mains and pipes within the next 7 years. He has invested in Public Works vehicles and he has invested greatly in public safety including new Police and Fire vehicles and apparatus and a new headquarters for the Fire Department.
Mayor Lambert's skill at infrastructure projects also helped greatly when he became Mayor and inherited a court mandated CSO project that also threatened to bankrupt the city. Through a number of ways the Mayor was able to bring the cost of the project under control and still meet the court's requirements. The CSO project is currently on time and under budget which would have been a singular achievement for any administration. Lambert though has also taken on infrastructure projects in the name of improving public education. The city of Fall River's School Building Plan, developed by the Lambert administration calls for eleven new/retrofitted schools. To date, Mayor Lambert has opened the John J. Doran School in 2001, the Spencer Borden and William S. Greene schools in January 2003 and the Frank M. Silvia School in 2004. He has also broken ground in May 2005 on the site of the future Matthew J. Kuss Middle School.
Mayor Lambert's vision has also led to increased tourism as cruise ships once again have decided to visit the shores of Fall River. The city boasts the state's only BioReserve and as part of the deal, a new 300-acre industrial park that will create many more jobs is part of the city's future. The city now has long-term plans in place to redevelop its waterfront. These plans are already bearing fruit as the city has recently completed construction of an extended boardwalk, the longest outside of Boston. The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth has opened an Advanced Technology Manufacturing Center in the city and several high-tech startups have located there, including a biotechnology company, AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. Also, the city has restored a long vacant historic building in the downtown. The Cherry & Webb Building, as it was once known, is now home to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Center of Professional and Continuing Studies. The city's local community college, Bristol Community College, is also holding classes in the building.
During his tenure as Mayor, Mayor Lambert has not been afraid to take on important battles both legal and otherwise. That fighting spirit has earned him the respect of many citizens that have felt that the city gave up too easily on certain issues throughout its history and past administrations. The city recently won a muti-million dollar lawsuit against BFI and the Mayor continues to work to try to shut down the company's expansion next to the city's water supply. The Mayor also took up and won a very difficult fight to downsize public housing in the city. Chapter 235 of the Acts of 2002, the city's Home Rule Petition to demolish the Watuppa Heights housing project and to replace it with affordable single-family homes passed the Massachusetts House and Senate with two-thirds of each branch voting in favor of the bill. The Mayor also continues to fight agressively against a proposal to locate an LNG import terminal off North Main Street in Fall River. The Mayor recently hired three prominent Washington D.C. based attorneys to help him with his efforts. Lambert continues to lobby the state and the Governor for commuter rail and other important projects as he strives toward his vision of a prosperous city where no person is left behind.
Ed Lambert is a lifelong resident of the City of Fall River. He has been married for over 20 years to his wife Mary and he has one son, James. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and a Masters Degree in Education from Bridgewater State College. Mayor Lambert has also served a full term as President of the Massachusetts Mayor's Association, his peer Mayors elected him to the position in 2001.
As a State Representative, Ed Lambert put his background in social work to good use as he always fought for legislation to protect our children. Serving as a member of the Fall River School Committee from 1980-1989 helped make Ed very knowledgeable on the issue of education. During his time at the State House, Ed Lambert co-authored the Education Reform Bill, wrote legislation to create the Massachusetts Secretary of Education position and created legislation that moved Southeastern Massachusetts University into the University of Massachusetts system. On economic development issues he did much, including writing the initial legislation to create economic opportunity zones. On senior issues, he worked diligently for 2.5 years as Co-Chair of the Elder Caucus and led 85 fellow representatives on important senior issues, including reforming the Medigap insurance system.
When Ed Lambert first took office, the City of Fall River was confronted with a number of problems. The city was facing a $6.5 million budget deficit that threatened to put Fall River into state receivership. In about 18 months, Mayor Lambert turned the city's budget deficit into a $1.9 million surplus. Moody's and Standard & Poor's have continuously upgraded the city's bond rating since Ed Lambert has been Mayor of Fall River. Mayor Lambert has worked hard to create a business friendly atmosphere in the city, stressed the importance of economic development and worked well with many people including the Fall River Office of Economic Development. This has led to a diversification of the economy from an overly heavy reliance on the manufacturing sector and as a result, unemployment figures have been much lower than the historical norm for the city.
Mayor Lambert continues to work with everyone who is willing in order to move the city forward. Working in partnership with the city's large Portuguese community, the Mayor has been involved with initiatives like Ponta Delgada Boulevard, the statue of poet Joao Texeira de Medeiros at Heritage State Park and restoration of the Prince Henry the Navigator statue on Eastern Avenue just to name a few. The Portas da Cidade or Gates of the City project which will be placed on Ponta Delgada Boulevard along the city's waterfront is yet another project that the Mayor is working on at this time.
The Mayor has sought to vastly improve the infrastructure of the city by investing in sidewalk and street repair and other roadwork at unprecedented levels. He has also sought to revitalize Kennedy Park and to bring it back to its former glory. He has instituted the 42/7 plan, an initiative that will replace 42 miles worth of water mains and pipes within the next 7 years. He has invested in Public Works vehicles and he has invested greatly in public safety including new Police and Fire vehicles and apparatus and a new headquarters for the Fire Department.
Mayor Lambert's skill at infrastructure projects also helped greatly when he became Mayor and inherited a court mandated CSO project that also threatened to bankrupt the city. Through a number of ways the Mayor was able to bring the cost of the project under control and still meet the court's requirements. The CSO project is currently on time and under budget which would have been a singular achievement for any administration. Lambert though has also taken on infrastructure projects in the name of improving public education. The city of Fall River's School Building Plan, developed by the Lambert administration calls for eleven new/retrofitted schools. To date, Mayor Lambert has opened the John J. Doran School in 2001, the Spencer Borden and William S. Greene schools in January 2003 and the Frank M. Silvia School in 2004. He has also broken ground in May 2005 on the site of the future Matthew J. Kuss Middle School.
Mayor Lambert's vision has also led to increased tourism as cruise ships once again have decided to visit the shores of Fall River. The city boasts the state's only BioReserve and as part of the deal, a new 300-acre industrial park that will create many more jobs is part of the city's future. The city now has long-term plans in place to redevelop its waterfront. These plans are already bearing fruit as the city has recently completed construction of an extended boardwalk, the longest outside of Boston. The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth has opened an Advanced Technology Manufacturing Center in the city and several high-tech startups have located there, including a biotechnology company, AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc. Also, the city has restored a long vacant historic building in the downtown. The Cherry & Webb Building, as it was once known, is now home to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Center of Professional and Continuing Studies. The city's local community college, Bristol Community College, is also holding classes in the building.
During his tenure as Mayor, Mayor Lambert has not been afraid to take on important battles both legal and otherwise. That fighting spirit has earned him the respect of many citizens that have felt that the city gave up too easily on certain issues throughout its history and past administrations. The city recently won a muti-million dollar lawsuit against BFI and the Mayor continues to work to try to shut down the company's expansion next to the city's water supply. The Mayor also took up and won a very difficult fight to downsize public housing in the city. Chapter 235 of the Acts of 2002, the city's Home Rule Petition to demolish the Watuppa Heights housing project and to replace it with affordable single-family homes passed the Massachusetts House and Senate with two-thirds of each branch voting in favor of the bill. The Mayor also continues to fight agressively against a proposal to locate an LNG import terminal off North Main Street in Fall River. The Mayor recently hired three prominent Washington D.C. based attorneys to help him with his efforts. Lambert continues to lobby the state and the Governor for commuter rail and other important projects as he strives toward his vision of a prosperous city where no person is left behind.
Ed Lambert is a lifelong resident of the City of Fall River. He has been married for over 20 years to his wife Mary and he has one son, James. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and a Masters Degree in Education from Bridgewater State College. Mayor Lambert has also served a full term as President of the Massachusetts Mayor's Association, his peer Mayors elected him to the position in 2001.
Committee to Re-Elect Mayor Lambert 2005
Website Design and Hosting by Stellar Web Production