Gene G. Chandler
Encyclopedia
Gene G. Chandler is a Republican
politician
in the U.S. state
of New Hampshire
. Chandler, who is from Bartlett
, is serving his twelfth two-year term representing Carroll County
District 1 (Bartlett
, Chatham
, Conway
, Hale's Location
, Hart's Location
and Jackson
) in the New Hampshire House of Representatives
. Chandler was the Speaker of the House from 2001 until 2004, when he opted not to seek a third term during an investigation of failing to report nearly $64,000 in gifts.
Chandler was the Speaker of the House from 2001 until 2004, when he chose not to seek re-election as Speaker amid allegations that he failed to report approximately $64,000 he received in gifts over a six year period. In 2004, it came to light that Chandler failed to report money he received from the group "Friends of Gene Chandler", which held an annual "Old-Fashioned Corn Roast" for the preceding ten years.
Chandler argued that he had been misinformed by the State Secretary of State's office, since the money was raised by a "Friends committee." Under New Hampshire State Law, money raised by such an organization cannot be used for election purposes, but is instead used to cover other expenses. However, the money must still be reported. Acknowledging he made a mistake, Chandler pled guilty to a single misdemeanor for violating RSA 640:5 Gifts to Public Servants, for failure to file financial information with the State. He was forced to pay the maximum fine of $2,000 and perform 100 hours of community service. Chandler did not run for a third term as speaker and received a censure
from the House for violating House Ethics Rules but was allowed to keep his seat, although the Ethics Committee recommended expulsion. Chandler was reelected amidst the Attorney General
's investigation. He had the confidence of Speaker W. Douglas Scamman and served as Chairman of the House Public Works and Highways Committee.
On September 9, 2005, The Conway Daily Sun ran an article announcing that the corn roasts, now "Gene's Fall Family Fun Picnic", would continue as normal on September 11, 2005, with the cost still $10 to attend, and Rep. Chandler asserted it was "200 percent legal." The event has continued since then.
In the 2007-2008 biennium, House Republican Leader Michael Whalley appointed Chandler as Republican Policy Leader, the number 3 person in the Republican Caucus. House Republican Leader Sherman Packard appointed Chandler as Senior Assistant Republican Leader in the 2009-2010 legislative biennium.
reported that Chandler would run for Speaker again if the Republicans retook the House of Representatives in the 2010 elections
. Chandler said, "“First, I have to win reelection in my district and as you know it’s a crowded field. Secondly we would need to see the Republicans get back the majority in the House. If that all happens then I will run for Speaker." Republicans currently need fourteen seats to retake the House. Chandler easily took the number one GOP slot in the primaries earlier in the year, and received more votes than any other candidate in his district. He successfully won re-election and the Republican Party took control of the House on November 2, 2010.
Two weeks later, on November 18, 2010, Chandler was defeated 142-133 in his run for the Speakership. Chandler yielded to Representative William O'Brien
, saying he would not ask House Democrats to support him.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. Chandler, who is from Bartlett
Bartlett, New Hampshire
Bartlett is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,788 at the 2010 census. Bartlett includes the villages of Glen, Lower Bartlett and Intervale. It is set in the White Mountains, surrounded by the White Mountain National Forest...
, is serving his twelfth two-year term representing Carroll County
Carroll County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 43,666 people, 18,351 households, and 12,313 families residing in the county. The population density was 18/km² . There were 34,750 housing units at an average density of 14/km²...
District 1 (Bartlett
Bartlett, New Hampshire
Bartlett is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,788 at the 2010 census. Bartlett includes the villages of Glen, Lower Bartlett and Intervale. It is set in the White Mountains, surrounded by the White Mountain National Forest...
, Chatham
Chatham, New Hampshire
Chatham is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 337 at the 2010 census. It is located in the White Mountains, and except for the southeast corner, all of Chatham is in the White Mountain National Forest...
, Conway
Conway, New Hampshire
Conway is a town, the largest in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 10,115 at the 2010 census. Parts of the White Mountain National Forest are in the west and north. Cathedral Ledge and Echo Lake State Park are in the west...
, Hale's Location
Hale's Location, New Hampshire
Hale's Location is a township in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 120 at the 2010 census. In New Hampshire, locations, grants, townships , and purchases are unincorporated portions of a county which are not part of any town and have limited self-government...
, Hart's Location
Hart's Location, New Hampshire
Hart's Location is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. Since 1948, the town has been one of the first places to declare its results for the New Hampshire Presidential primary and U.S. Presidential elections....
and Jackson
Jackson, New Hampshire
Jackson is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 816 at the 2010 census. Jackson is an elegant resort area in the White Mountains. Parts of the White Mountain National Forest are in the west, north and east...
) in the New Hampshire House of Representatives
New Hampshire House of Representatives
The New Hampshire House of Representatives is the lower house in the New Hampshire General Court. The House of Representatives consists of 400 members coming from 103 districts across the state, created from divisions of the state's counties. On average, each legislator represents about 3,300...
. Chandler was the Speaker of the House from 2001 until 2004, when he opted not to seek a third term during an investigation of failing to report nearly $64,000 in gifts.
Chandler was the Speaker of the House from 2001 until 2004, when he chose not to seek re-election as Speaker amid allegations that he failed to report approximately $64,000 he received in gifts over a six year period. In 2004, it came to light that Chandler failed to report money he received from the group "Friends of Gene Chandler", which held an annual "Old-Fashioned Corn Roast" for the preceding ten years.
Chandler argued that he had been misinformed by the State Secretary of State's office, since the money was raised by a "Friends committee." Under New Hampshire State Law, money raised by such an organization cannot be used for election purposes, but is instead used to cover other expenses. However, the money must still be reported. Acknowledging he made a mistake, Chandler pled guilty to a single misdemeanor for violating RSA 640:5 Gifts to Public Servants, for failure to file financial information with the State. He was forced to pay the maximum fine of $2,000 and perform 100 hours of community service. Chandler did not run for a third term as speaker and received a censure
Censure
A censure is an expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism. Among the forms that it can take are a stern rebuke by a legislature, a spiritual penalty imposed by a church, and a negative judgment pronounced on a theological proposition.-Politics:...
from the House for violating House Ethics Rules but was allowed to keep his seat, although the Ethics Committee recommended expulsion. Chandler was reelected amidst the Attorney General
New Hampshire Attorney General
The New Hampshire Attorney General is a constitutional officer of the U.S. state of New Hampshire who serves as head of the Department of Justice...
's investigation. He had the confidence of Speaker W. Douglas Scamman and served as Chairman of the House Public Works and Highways Committee.
On September 9, 2005, The Conway Daily Sun ran an article announcing that the corn roasts, now "Gene's Fall Family Fun Picnic", would continue as normal on September 11, 2005, with the cost still $10 to attend, and Rep. Chandler asserted it was "200 percent legal." The event has continued since then.
In the 2007-2008 biennium, House Republican Leader Michael Whalley appointed Chandler as Republican Policy Leader, the number 3 person in the Republican Caucus. House Republican Leader Sherman Packard appointed Chandler as Senior Assistant Republican Leader in the 2009-2010 legislative biennium.
Possible Third Term
On October 6, 2010, the Conway Daily SunConway Daily Sun
The Conway Daily Sun is a five-day free daily newspaper published in the town of Conway, New Hampshire, U.S., covering the Mount Washington Valley area. It has been published since 1989 by Country News Club, which also prints two other free Daily Sun tabloids in eastern New Hampshire.Mark...
reported that Chandler would run for Speaker again if the Republicans retook the House of Representatives in the 2010 elections
United States elections, 2010
The 2010 United States elections were held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. During this midterm election year, all 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 37 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate were contested in this election along with 38 state and territorial...
. Chandler said, "“First, I have to win reelection in my district and as you know it’s a crowded field. Secondly we would need to see the Republicans get back the majority in the House. If that all happens then I will run for Speaker." Republicans currently need fourteen seats to retake the House. Chandler easily took the number one GOP slot in the primaries earlier in the year, and received more votes than any other candidate in his district. He successfully won re-election and the Republican Party took control of the House on November 2, 2010.
Two weeks later, on November 18, 2010, Chandler was defeated 142-133 in his run for the Speakership. Chandler yielded to Representative William O'Brien
William L. O'Brien
William L. O'Brien is a lawyer and legislator from Mont Vernon, New Hampshire who has been a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives since 2004, representing district Hillsborough-4, and was elected the Speaker of the House in 2011.-Biography:O'Brien obtained his bachelors degree in...
, saying he would not ask House Democrats to support him.