Gene G. Chandler
From Wikipedia, the free 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 (12th) 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 was forced to step down for failing to report over $64,000 in gifts.
[edit] Corn Roast Scandal
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.
