| Max Sandlin | |
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| In office 1997–2005 |
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| Preceded by | Jim Chapman |
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| Succeeded by | Louie Gohmert |
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| Born | September 29, 1952 Texarkana, Arkansas |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Stephanie Herseth Sandlin |
| Profession | former County executive, former Congressman, Lobbyist |
| Religion | Baptist |
Max A. Sandlin, Jr. (born September 29, 1952), American politician, is a former Democratic Congressman representing Texas's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1997 to 2005. Sandlin was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of conservative Democrats in Congress.
Born in Texarkana, Arkansas, Sandlin earned Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from Baylor University, and he was also a member of the university's Tryon Coterie Club (now the Texas Lambda chapter of Phi Delta Theta). Here, he was selected Outstanding Young Alumni. His political career began when he was elected county judge (chief executive) of Harrison County in 1986. In only one term, he balanced the county budget and left office with a budget surplus. He also cut ad valorem taxes. In 1989, Sandlin was elected Judge of the County Court at Law in the county seat of Marshall, serving there until his election to Congress in 1996.
Sandlin served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure, House Financial Services, Ways and Means committees. In 2002, Sandlin became a chief deputy whip for the House Democrats.
Sandlin was a leading critic of the 2003 Texas redistricting orchestrated by then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. His district was largely rural and had been throughout its history, but the 2003 redistricting cut out Texarkana and several rural areas that had been part of the district for more than a century. In their place, it added the heavily Republican cities of Tyler and Longview. Sandlin claimed that such a remap silenced unfairly the voices of rural and minority Texans. After considering a run against Democrat-turned-Republican Ralph Hall in neighboring District 4, which had absorbed several counties of his former district, he decided to run again in District 1 in January 2004. He was heavily defeated by Republican Louie Gohmert in the November election, garnering only 39 percent of the vote--the largest margin of defeat for an incumbent congressman in the 2004 cycle.
Sandlin advocated that the 2003 redistricting process was illegal and should be ruled as unconstitutional.
On November 1, 2006, Fleishman-Hillard International Communications announced that Max Sandlin would serve as co-chair of the newly merged Fleishman-Hillard Government Relations and Mercury Public Affairs Government Relations Operations.
In December 2006, Max became engaged to be married to South Dakota's Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth.[1] The couple was married on March 31, 2007 in Brookings, South Dakota.[2]
On July 23, 2008, Herseth Sandlin announced that she and Max are expecting a child in December 2008. Sandlin has four children from a previous marriage.[3]
References
- ^ "Herseth to marry former Texas lawmaker". Sioux Falls Argus Leader. December 17, 2006. http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006612170317. Retrieved 2006-12-17.
- ^ Anne Schroeder (March 22, 2007). "Wedding Bell Bliss". Politico.com. http://www.politico.com/blogs/anneschroeder/0307/Shenanigans.html. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
- ^ Herseth Sandlin expecting first child in December
External links
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jim Chapman |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 1st congressional district 1997–2005 |
Succeeded by Louie Gohmert |
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