Tim Sneller

{{Short description|American politician (1956–2024)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| image =

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| honorific-prefix =

| name = Tim Sneller

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| state_house = Michigan

| district = 50th

| term_start = January 1, 2017

| term_end = December 31, 2022

| predecessor = Charles Smiley

| successor = Bob Bezotte

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| birth_date = {{birth date|1956|06|20}}

| birth_place = Flint, Michigan, U.S.[https://mdoe.state.mi.us/legislators/Legislator/LegislatorDetail/5463 Legislator Details - Tim Sneller]. Library of Michigan, November 12, 2019.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|07|11|1956|06|20}}

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| party = Democratic

| spouse =

| children =

| residence = Genesee County, Michigan[https://housedems.com/sneller "Meet Tim Sneller"]. housedems.com, November 9, 2019.

| education =

| alma_mater = University of Michigan–Flint

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Timothy P. Sneller[https://cfrsearch.nictusa.com/committees/517469 Michigan Committee Statement of Organization]. Michigan Secretary of State, November 15, 2019. (June 20, 1956 – July 11, 2024) was an American politician who served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2017 to 2022, representing the 50th District as a member of the United States Democratic Party.

Prior to his election to the legislature, Sneller worked on the legislative staffs of various state representatives and senators in the Genesee County area.[https://pridesource.com/article/tim-sneller-changing-tides/ "Tim Sneller: Changing Tides"]. PrideSource, February 14, 2018.

He was first elected in the 2016 elections,[https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2016/11/tim_sneller_wins_in_50th_state.html "Tim Sneller wins in 50th state House race"]. MLive Media Group, November 9, 2016. and was reelected to a second term in office in 2018.[https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2018/11/post_522.html "Genesee County votes blue for House seats and red for Senate seats"]. MLive Media Group, November 7, 2018. In his first term in office he introduced a bill to ban non-therapeutic debarking of dogs,[https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/05/25/dog-debarking-michigan/642916002/ "Michigan lawmaker introduces bill that would ban debarking of dogs"]. Detroit Free Press, May 25, 2018. and was a supporter of Adam Zemke's bill to ban LGBT conversion therapy.[https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/02/09/michigan-conversion-therapy/322790002/ "New bill to ban conversion therapy in Michigan introduced by state reps"]. Detroit Free Press, February 9, 2018.

Sneller was openly gay.

He died on July 11, 2024, at the age of 68.{{cite web |last1=Egan|first1=Paul|title=Tim Sneller, a former lawmaker and veteran of the Michigan Legislature, dies at age 68|url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/07/12/tim-sneller-mighigan-lawmaker-genesee-dies/74384355007/|website=Detroit Free Press|access-date=July 13, 2024}} At the time of his death, Sneller was the only Democratic candidate for the 68th district of the state House.{{cite web |last1=Goetz|first1=Dylan|title=Former state representative and current candidate Tim Sneller dies at 68|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2024/07/former-state-representative-and-current-candidate-tim-sneller-dies-at-68.html|date=July 12, 2024|website=MLive|access-date=August 6, 2024}} The Michigan Democratic State Central Committee attempted to replace Sneller on the August primary ballot with Matt Schlinker, who announced his candidacy on July 28, however Judge James Robert Redford ruled that they attempted to do so too late, as early voting had already began.{{cite web |last1=Fonger|first1=Ron|title=Judge blocks Dems from replacing state House candidate who died 26 days before Aug. 6 primary|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2024/07/judge-blocks-dems-from-replacing-state-house-candidate-who-died-26-days-before-aug-6-primary.html|date=August 1, 2024|website=MLive|access-date=August 6, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Maddox|first1=Tiffany|title= Matt Schlinker announces run for State Representative for Michigan's 68th District |url=https://www.abc12.com/news/matt-schlinker-announces-run-for-state-representative-for-michigans-68th-district/article_f778e2e2-4d36-11ef-b3d8-431757b4b00e.html|date=August 1, 2024|website=ABC12|access-date=August 6, 2024}} Sneller's name remained on the ballot, and he received over 6,000 votes.{{cite web |last1=Fonger|first1=Ron|title=Here are the matchups for November after primary state House elections in Genesee County|url=https://www.mlive.com/politics/2024/08/here-are-the-matchups-for-november-after-primary-state-house-elections-in-genesee-county.html|date=August 7, 2024|website=MLive|access-date=August 10, 2024}}