Andrew J. Hinshaw
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Andrew J. Hinshaw (born August 4, 1923) was born in Dexter, Missouri and attended public schools in Michigan and Los Angeles, California. He was in the Navy in World War II, from 1942 to 1945. He received a B.S. degree from the University of Southern California in 1950 and attended the USC Law School.
Hinshaw worked for ten years for the California State Board of Equalization and five years for the Los Angeles County Assessor's Office.
He entered politics as the Assessor of Orange County, California, serving from 1965 to 1972. This had been a controversial office and there had been calls from Orange County Grand Juries to change the extremely favored treatment given to large land holders. This was Hinshaw's pledge, which he achieved. In doing so he incurred the political wrath and attacks from their supporters.
These attacks included the Orange County District Attorney, Cecil Hicks who had arguments with Hinshaw) and Orange County Counsel, notwithstanding its legal obligation to represent him.
In 1972, Hinshaw entered the Republican primary for California's 39th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. The district, which had been the 35th District prior to redistricting, was represented by outspoken conservative John G. Schmitz. Hinshaw was personally recruited by President Richard Nixon, whose home in San Clemente was in the district, after Schmitz suggested that Nixon shouldn't return from a visit to China. Hinshaw scored a considerable upset in the Republican primary election, narrowly defeating Schmitz by 2.7 percentage points. This was tantamount to election in what has long been considered the most Republican district in California.
Although Hinshaw was a fairly moderate Republican by Orange County standards, he faced no substantive opposition in the 1974 Republican primary, and was easily reelected in the renumbered 40th District. However, in February 1976, he was convicted of taking bribes during his 1972 campaign. The conviction virtually ended his political career; in that year's Republican primary he finished a bad fourth behind State Assemblyman Robert Badham, the eventual winner.
After Hinshaw left Congress he did consulting for several organizations until his retirement in 2001.
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| Preceded by Bob Wilson |
Representative, California's 40th congressional district 1975– 1977 |
Succeeded by Robert E. Badham |
