Andy Sanborn
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Andy Sanborn
|image = Andy Sanborn by Gage Skidmore.jpg
|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_date =
|birth_place = Lebanon, New Hampshire
|death_date =
|death_place =
|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.
Early life, education and career
Sanborn was born in Lebanon, New Hampshire.{{when|date=April 2020}} He studied marketing, finance, and economics at New England College.{{when|date=April 2020}} 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.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}
Sanborn also owns and leases real estate. His tenants at Phat Stuff, a head shop in Keene, were raided by the DEA in 2014.{{cite news|last1=Jarvis|first1=Kyle|title=Federal agents raid Keene head shop, store closed|url=http://www.sentinelsource.com/news/local/federal-agents-raid-keene-head-shop-store-closed/article_71c2a62f-2945-569c-98ec-bdb4cbb076f2.html|newspaper=The Keene Sentinel|date=May 8, 2014}}
Conviction
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.{{cite web | url=https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2023/09/01/ag-former-state-senator-used-pandemic-aid-to-enrich-himself-buy-wife-a-ferrari/ | title=AG: Former state senator used pandemic aid to enrich himself, buy wife a Ferrari • New Hampshire Bulletin | date=September 2023 }} 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. State officials indicated at the time of the announcement in August that they were investigating criminal charges.{{cite web | url=https://www.nhbr.com/lawyers-for-new-hampshire-casino-owner-fight-fraud-allegations-at-hearing/ | title=Lawyers for New Hampshire casino owner fight fraud allegations at hearing | date=14 December 2023 }} In October 2024 he was charged with felony theft for using $900,000 of federal COVID-19 loans and spending it on luxury cars as well as failing to mention has business was Concord Casino.{{cite news| publisher= apnews.com| date=October 17, 2024| title=Ex-New Hampshire state senator Andy Sanborn charged with theft in connection with state pandemic aid| author= Holly Ramer| url= https://apnews.com/article/andy-sanborn-covid19-fraud-d3854b8f9225bf0372c4ec9d41ec0149}} . {{cite news| publisher= apnews.com| date= October 17, 2024| title=Ex-New Hampshire state senator Andy Sanborn charged with theft in connection with state pandemic aid| author= Holly Ramer| url=https://apnews.com/article/andy-sanborn-covid19-fraud-d3854b8f9225bf0372c4ec9d41ec0149}}
Positions
Sanborn had consistently been rated one of the most conservative members of the New Hampshire State Senate.[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] {{dead link|date=August 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/109861/andy-sanborn#.WV-gDYjytPY|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Votesmart.org|access-date=29 August 2018}} He touts himself as the "Conservative Conscious" of the New Hampshire Senate.{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-hampshire/articles/2017-06-13/state-senator-andy-sanborn-running-for-congress|title=State Senator Andy Sanborn Running for Congress|website=Usnews.com|access-date=26 January 2022}} In 2017 he passed six new bills into law.{{Cite web|url=http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/results.aspx?lsr=61&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2017&ddlsponsors=209083|title=Current Legislation Search|website=Gencourt.state.nh.us|access-date=26 January 2022}}
=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."{{cite news|last1=Sargent|first1=Hilary|title=N.H. legislator threatens constituent who wants pot legalized|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/blogs/hilary-sargent/2014/01/27/legislator-threatens-constituent-who-wants-pot-legalized/wUSofN4dXEz4vm3f0DouZO/blog.html|work=Boston Globe|date=January 27, 2014}}
=Health care=
Sanborn is opposed to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and compared it to the crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214.{{cite news|last1=Pindell|first1=James|title=Potential GOP NH Gov. candidate compared health care law to San Francisco air crash|url=http://www.wmur.com/political-scoop/potential-gop-nh-gov-candidate-compared-health-care-law-to-san-francisco-air-crash/20908174|work=WMUR|date=July 9, 2013}} He also opposed the creation of a state-run exchange under the act.{{cite news|last1=Fleisher |first1=Chris |title=Vermont, N.H. Took Very Different Approaches to Establishing Health Insurance Exchanges |url=http://www.vnews.com/home/8443133-95/vermont-nh-took-very-different-approaches-to-establishing-health-insurance-exchanges |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150408151022/http://www.vnews.com/home/8443133-95/vermont-nh-took-very-different-approaches-to-establishing-health-insurance-exchanges |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 8, 2015 |work=Valley News |date=September 15, 2013 }}
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.[http://sos.nh.gov/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=26583 "2012 General Election Candidates."] New Hampshire Secretary of State.[http://sos.nh.gov/2012PrimElectResults.aspx "Official Primary Results."] New Hampshire Secretary of State.{{cite news|last1=Rayno|first1=Garry|title=Sanborn gets District 9 GOP win over Hawkins|url=http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120911/NEWS06/709129985|newspaper=New Hampshire Union Leader|date=September 11, 2012}} Sanborn considered running for governor in the 2014 elections, but announced he would no longer be seeking the Republican nomination on September 27, 2013.{{cite news|last1=Pindell|first1=James|title=Sen. Sanborn met with RGA on potential run for governor|url=http://www.wmur.com/political-scoop/Sen-Sanborn-met-with-RGA-on-potential-run-for-governor/-/16254890/19814908/-/jm2r8n/-/index.html?absolute=true|website=Wmur.com|date=April 19, 2013}}{{cite news|last1=Pindell|first1=James|title=GOP state Sen. Andy Sanborn will not run for governor|url=http://www.wmur.com/political-scoop/gop-state-sen-andy-sanborn-will-not-run-for-governor/-/16254890/22160382/-/9a8man/-/index.html|website=Wmur.com|date=September 27, 2013}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YZRfFiCDBEYB7M18fDGLH8IrmyMQGdQKqpOu9lLvmdo/edit#gid=1820080179|title=Daily Kos Elections Statewide Results by LD (public)|website=Docs.google.com|access-date=29 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://sos.nh.gov/2016GenResults.aspx|title=2016 General Election Information and Results - NHSOS|website=Sos.nh.gov|access-date=29 August 2018}}
{{Election box begin no change
|title =New Hampshire's 9th Senate District election, 2016
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party= Republican Party (United States)
|candidate= Andy Sanborn
|votes=17,073
|percentage=53.62
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party= Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate= Lee C. Nyquist
|votes=14,727
|percentage=46.26
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Scattered
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 38
| percentage =0.12
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
|title =New Hampshire's 9th Senate District election, 2014
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party= Republican Party (United States)
|candidate= Andy Sanborn
|votes=12,310
|percentage=53.18
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party= Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate= Lee C. Nyquist
|votes=10,804
|percentage=46.68
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Scattered
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 32
| percentage =0.14
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
|title =New Hampshire's 9th Senate District election, 2012
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party= Republican Party (United States)
|candidate= Andy Sanborn
|votes=15,454
|percentage=50.35
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party= Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate= Lee C. Nyquist
|votes=15,241
|percentage=49.65
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
|title =New Hampshire's 7th Senate District election, 2010
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party= Republican Party (United States)
|candidate= Andy Sanborn
|votes=10,816
|percentage=54.83
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party= Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate= Michelle L. Tremblay
|votes=8,887
|percentage=45.05
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Scattered
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 25
| percentage =0.12
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
|title =New Hampshire's 7th Senate District election, 2008
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party= Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate= Harold Janeway
|votes=14,153
|percentage=51.93
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party= Republican Party (United States)
|candidate= Andy Sanborn
|votes=13,076
|percentage=47.98
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Scattered
| party = Write-in candidate
| votes = 26
| percentage =0.10
}}
{{Election box end}}
Legislative committees
Sanborn was a member of the following committees:{{cite web|url=http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/senate/members/webpages/district09.aspx|title=Senate District 09|website=Gencourt.state.nh.us|access-date=29 August 2018}}
- Ways & Means Committee (chair)
- Election Law & Internal Affairs
Personal life
Sanborn is married to Laurie Sanborn, a representative for Hillsborough 41 in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Was arrested 10/16/2024 for fraud theft by deception in connection with nearly $190,000 in pandemic aid that was paid out in 2020.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{C-SPAN|67885}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-nh-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=Harold Janeway}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the New Hampshire Senate
from the 7th district|years=2010–2012}}
{{s-aft|after=Andrew J. Hosmer}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Ray White}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the New Hampshire Senate
from the 9th district|years=2012–2018}}
{{s-aft|after=Jeanne Dietsch}}
{{s-end}}
{{New Hampshire State Senators}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanborn, Andy}}
Category:New England College alumni
Category:Republican Party New Hampshire state senators
Category:People from Lebanon, New Hampshire
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century members of the New Hampshire General Court
Category:Candidates in the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections