Kathy Edmonston
| Donna Katherine "Kathy" Odom Edmonston | |
 | |
Louisiana State Representative for District 88 (Ascension Parish)
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 13, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Johnny Berthelot |
|---|---|
District 6 member of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Livingston, Tangipohoa, and Washington parishes)
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| In office January 2016 – January 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Chas Roemer, IV |
| Succeeded by | Ronnie Morris |
| Born | October 16, 1949 Gonzales, Ascension Parish, Louisiana |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Springhill High School (Webster Parish) Louisiana State University |
| Occupation | Businesswoman |
| Religion | Christian |
Donna Katherine Odom Edmonston, known as Kathy Edmonston (born October 16, 1949), is a Republican state representative for District 88 in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, and a former member of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for District 6 (Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Livingston, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes). She resides in Gonzales.
To win her House seat, Edmonston (names of spouse and children unvailable) narrowly defeated in a runoff election another Republican, Brandon Trosclair (born 1983), a grocer in Gonzales whose family operates Ralph's Market and Butcher Boy Supermarket.[1] Though Trosclair had led in the October 12, primary, Edmonston polled 6,956 votes (51 percent) to Trosclair's 6,662 (49 percent).[2]
Both Edmonston and Trosclair ran as conservatives for the legislative seat. The district includes Galvez, where Edmonston resides, St. Amant, Sorrenton, and half of Gonzales.[1] Edmonston is also a member of the Ascension Parish and state Republican executive committees.[1] She endorsed U.S. Representative Ralph Abraham for governor in 2019, but Abraham was edged out of contention by the Baton Rouge Republican Eddie Rispone, who lost to Democratic incumbent John Bel Edwards.
While serving on the BESE Board, Edmonston opposed the Common Core State Standards Initiative. She is strongly pro-life.[3]
Edmonston is employed by the Ascension Parish School Board and is an officer of the non-profit organization, Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge, Inc. The registered agent for the non-profit is Tanja Foil, wife of state Senator Franklin Foil.[4]
On March 3, 2020, Edmonston struck a vehicle that had been stopped for a red light on Airline Highway in Baton Rouge. Police arrested her for driving while intoxicated. Edmonston failed standardized field sobriety tests, and a breathalyzer placed her blood alcohol content at .143, far beyond the legal limit of .08.[5] Edmonston apologized for the incident, which she termed "a wake-up call." She added that she had been humiliated by the airing of the first-offense DWI arrest in public but said the matter will prompt her to address her problem with "social drinking."[6]
Edmonston sought reelection in the legislative primary held on October 14, 2023. She faced two fellow Republicans in the race, Willie Robinson and Donald "Don" Schexnaydre.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Trosclair, Edmonston headed to runoff for House 88 seat in Ascension Parish. The Baton Rouge Advocate (October 12, 2019). Retrieved on November 23, 2019.
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 12 and November 16, 2019.
- ↑ Kathy Ednonston for House of Representatives District 88. Facebook. Retrieved on November 23, 2019.
- ↑ Kathy Edmonston Profiles in Baton Rouge, LA. Bizapedia.com. Retrieved on November 23, 2019.
- ↑ State representative arrested after alleged drunk driving crash. WBRZ.com (March 4, 2020). Retrieved on March 5, 2020.
- ↑ David J. Mitchell (March 5, 2020). After DWI arrest, recently elected state rep apologizes; calls it 'a wake-up call'. The Baton Rouge Advocate. Retrieved on March 6, 2020.
