Andy Sanborn Explained

Andy Sanborn
State Senate:New Hampshire
District:9th
Term Start:December 5, 2012
Term End:December 5, 2018
Predecessor:Ray White
Successor:Jeanne Dietsch
State Senate1:New Hampshire
District1:7th
Term Start1:December 1, 2010
Term End1:December 5, 2012
Predecessor1:Harold Janeway
Successor1:Andrew J. Hosmer
Birth Place:Lebanon, New Hampshire
Party:Republican
Spouse:Laurie Sanborn
Residence:Bedford
Alma Mater:New England College

Andy Sanborn is a former Republican member of the New Hampshire Senate, representing the 9th district between 2012 and 2018, and previously the 7th district from 2010 to 2012.

Early life, education and career

Sanborn was born in Lebanon, New Hampshire. He studied marketing, finance, and economics at New England College. He worked in commercial lending for 15 years and was employed by an international leasing company in Chicago. Sanborn owns The Draft sports bar in Concord and is on the board of the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association.

Sanborn also owns and leases real estate. His tenants at Phat Stuff, a head shop in Keene, were raided by the DEA in 2014.[1]

In August 2023, shortly after he submitted plans to build a larger casino across town in Concord, Sanborn was placed under investigation by the State of New Hampshire on allegations of covid-relief fraud due to reports that he had used relief funds to purchase luxury vehicles and personal finances.[2] Sanborn denied these claims and his lawyers have said that the funds were used for business expenses, including the expansion of his downtown Concord casino. As of December 2023 the case is being heard by the New Hampshire Department of Safety to determine if he will retain his casino license. State officials indicated at the time of the announcement in August that they were investigating criminal charges.[3]

Positions

Sanborn had consistently been rated one of the most conservative members of the New Hampshire State Senate.[4] [5] He touts himself as the "Conservative Conscious" of the New Hampshire Senate.[6] In 2017 he passed six new bills into law.[7]

Marijuana legalization

In January 2014, Sanborn was the subject of a public controversy regarding a contentious email exchange with a constituent over the issue of marijuana legalization. An email from a constituent supporting marijuana legalization received a heated response from Sanborn, who opposes legalization, including legislation making its way through the state legislature. Sanborn wrote in the email, "I’m thinking if I call the [organization you received a scholarship from] and ask their opinion on legalization, they may have a different opinion (not to mention may be asking you for their scholarship money back…)."

The constituent was believed to be a college freshman and a recipient of a scholarship, information that Sanborn declined to say how it was obtained. Sanborn responded to the controversy thus: "My e-mail was not a suggestion that I could or would work to revoke any scholarship, only to highlight that those involved with awarding him those funds may have made a different decision had he expressed similar pro-marijuana legalization efforts to them when applying."[8]

Health care

Sanborn is opposed to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and compared it to the crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214.[9] He also opposed the creation of a state-run exchange under the act.[10]

Electoral history

Sanborn made an unsuccessful run for the District 7 seat in the New Hampshire Senate in 2008. He ran again in 2010, this time successfully. After redistricting, he ran in District 9, defeating Lee C. Nyquist in the 2012 general election.[11] [12] [13] Sanborn considered running for governor in the 2014 elections, but announced he would no longer be seeking the Republican nomination on September 27, 2013.[14] [15] He was reelected in 2014 and again in 2016. In the 2016 election he was the top vote getter inside his district beating his opponent by eight points while Hillary Clinton also won the district.[16] [17]

Legislative committees

Sanborn was a member of the following committees:[18]

Personal life

Sanborn is married to Laurie Sanborn, a representative for Hillsborough 41 in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

References

[19] [20]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. News: Jarvis. Kyle. Federal agents raid Keene head shop, store closed. The Keene Sentinel. May 8, 2014.
  2. https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2023/09/01/ag-former-state-senator-used-pandemic-aid-to-enrich-himself-buy-wife-a-ferrari/
  3. https://www.nhbr.com/lawyers-for-new-hampshire-casino-owner-fight-fraud-allegations-at-hearing/
  4. http://acuratings.conservative.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/08/NewHampshire_2016_web.pdfhttp://acuratings.conservative.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/04/NewHampshire_2015_web1.pdf15_web1.pdf
  5. Web site: The Voter's Self Defense System. Votesmart.org. 29 August 2018.
  6. Web site: State Senator Andy Sanborn Running for Congress. Usnews.com. 26 January 2022.
  7. Web site: Current Legislation Search. Gencourt.state.nh.us. 26 January 2022.
  8. News: Sargent. Hilary. N.H. legislator threatens constituent who wants pot legalized. Boston Globe. January 27, 2014.
  9. News: Pindell. James. Potential GOP NH Gov. candidate compared health care law to San Francisco air crash. WMUR. July 9, 2013.
  10. News: Fleisher . Chris . Vermont, N.H. Took Very Different Approaches to Establishing Health Insurance Exchanges . https://archive.today/20150408151022/http://www.vnews.com/home/8443133-95/vermont-nh-took-very-different-approaches-to-establishing-health-insurance-exchanges . dead . April 8, 2015 . Valley News . September 15, 2013 .
  11. http://sos.nh.gov/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=26583 "2012 General Election Candidates."
  12. http://sos.nh.gov/2012PrimElectResults.aspx "Official Primary Results."
  13. News: Rayno. Garry. Sanborn gets District 9 GOP win over Hawkins. New Hampshire Union Leader. September 11, 2012.
  14. News: Pindell. James. Sen. Sanborn met with RGA on potential run for governor. Wmur.com. April 19, 2013.
  15. News: Pindell. James. GOP state Sen. Andy Sanborn will not run for governor. Wmur.com. September 27, 2013.
  16. Web site: Daily Kos Elections Statewide Results by LD (public). Docs.google.com. 29 August 2018.
  17. Web site: 2016 General Election Information and Results - NHSOS. Sos.nh.gov. 29 August 2018.
  18. Web site: Senate District 09. Gencourt.state.nh.us. 29 August 2018.
  19. Web site: State Senate - 2016 General Election - NHSOS. Sos.nh.gov. 29 August 2018.
  20. Web site: State Senate - 2014 General Election - NHSOS. Sos.nh.gov. 29 August 2018.