J. Hamilton Lambert

Jefferson Hamilton "Jay" Lambert (b. November 18, 1940) was the Fairfax County Executive from 1980 to 1990.

The son of Francis Kenneth Lambert and the former Margaret Rue Pearson, Lambert graduated from Loudoun County High School in 1959 and began working for Fairfax County as an assistant map draftsman.[1] This was the first of 22 jobs Lambert would hold with the county over the next 31 years.[2]

Upon the promotion of George J. Kelley, Jr. to county executive in 1971, the 29-year-old Lambert was appointed on February 17 to head the county's administrative staff group.[3] The following month, Lambert was one of six recipients of the county's A. Heath Onthank award.[4]

In 1973, Lambert was named director of general services for the county. Following the resignation of County Executive Robert W. Wilson in December 1975, the 35-year-old Lambert was appointed acting county executive on December 20.[5][6]

Although he had removed himself from consideration as a candidate for a permanent appointment as county executive, citing personal reasons, on April 12, 1976, Lambert was still considered for the job until the Board of Supervisors finally chose assistant Richmond city manager Leonard Whorton on June 22 following a six month search.[7][8]

At Whorton's recommendation, Lambert was appointed a deputy county executive, along with James P. McDonald and Samuel A. Finz, on November 8, 1976. Lambert's broad portfolio included public safety, public works, recreation and community services, the health department, and the department of extension and continuing education.[9]

After Whorton was forced out by the BoS on October 23, 1978, Lambert was again appointed as acting county executive on October 30, taking over on November 3.[10][11] Again citing personal reasons, Lambert declined a permanent appointment as county executive the following month.[12]

Following the 1979 elections, Lambert preemptively removed himself from consideration for a permanent appointment in a letter to the BoS on December 17.[13]

The BoS spent $10,000 on a search for a new county executive and interviewed six candidates, but Lambert was still the preferred man for the job. Personal lobbying by a majority of the members of the BoS finally convinced Lambert to accept an appointment as county executive on August 4, 1980.[14]

In December 1985, Lambert removed himself from consideration as Virginia secretary of transportation and public safety in the cabinet of Governor-elect Gerald L. Baliles, citing significant outstanding commitments to Fairfax County.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Bauer, Pat. "Fairfax Acting Executive Refuses to Take the Post." The Washington Post (1974-Current file), Dec 18 1979, p. 2. ProQuest. Web. 15 Aug. 2018.
  2. ↑ Hiatt, Fred. "Fairfax's Lambert: Dean of the Beltway Bureaucrats." The Washington Post (1974-Current file), Apr 04 1983, p. 2. ProQuest. Web. 21 Aug. 2018.
  3. ↑ "Fairfax Names Morrill Deputy County Executive." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Feb 18 1971, p. 1. ProQuest. Web. 16 Aug. 2018.
  4. ↑ "Fairfax Honors 6 Employes for Service to County" Evening Star, 7 Mar. 1971, Four Star, p. 42. NewsBank. Accessed 16 Aug. 2018.
  5. ↑ Nunes, Donnel. "Lambert Named by Fairfax." The Washington Post (1974-Current file), Dec 21 1975, p. 23. ProQuest. Web. 16 Aug. 2018.
  6. ↑ "Acting Fairfax Executive Appointed" Evening Star, 21 Dec. 1975, SUNDAY, p. 54. NewsBank. Accessed 16 Aug. 2018.
  7. ↑ Grubisich, Thomas. "Fairfax Acting Chief Pressured." The Washington Post (1974-Current file), Jun 10 1976, p. 2. ProQuest. Web. 16 Aug. 2018.
  8. ↑ Seaberry, Jane. "Fairfax Post Goes to Aide in Richmond." The Washington Post (1974-Current file), Jun 22 1976, p. 2. ProQuest. Web. 16 Aug. 2018.
  9. ↑ Knight, Athelia. "Fairfax Changes its Government Make-up, 3 Named." The Washington Post (1974-Current file), Nov 09 1976, p. 1. ProQuest. Web. 16 Aug. 2018.
  10. ↑ Grubisich, Thomas . "Fairfax Executive Whorton Resigns Under Pressure." The Washington Post (1974-Current file), Oct 24 1978, p. 2. ProQuest. Web. 16 Aug. 2018.
  11. ↑ "Acting Executive in Fairfax." The Washington Post (1974-Current file), Nov 02 1978, p. 1. ProQuest. Web. 16 Aug. 2018.
  12. ↑ "Lambert Declines County Executive Position." The Washington Post (1974-Current file), Dec 21 1978, p. 1. ProQuest. Web. 18 Aug. 2018.
  13. ↑ Bauer, Pat. "Fairfax Acting Executive Refuses to Take the Post." The Washington Post (1974-Current file), Dec 18 1979, p. 2. ProQuest. Web. 18 Aug. 2018.
  14. ↑ "Lots of Praise and Cajoling Win New Executive for Fairfax -- Finally." The Washington Post (1974-Current file), Aug 05 1980, p. 2. ProQuest. Web. 19 Aug. 2018.
  15. ↑ Moore, Molly. "Lambert Rejects State Job." The Washington Post (1974-Current file), Dec 18 1985, p. 31. ProQuest. Web. 19 Aug. 2018 .
Preceded by
Leonard L. Whorton
Fairfax County Executive
August 1980 – December 1990
Succeeded by
Richard A. King (Acting)