Preceded by Cathy Cook Education Saint Bernard School Role American Politician | Name Andrew Maynard Political party Democratic Party Democratic Party | |
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Born July 14, 1962 (age 61)
New London, Connecticut ( 1962-07-14 ) Residence Stonington, Connecticut, United States | ||
Andrew M. Maynard is an American politician from Connecticut. A Democrat, he was a member of the Connecticut State Senate representing the 18th District. Following an injury, he did not seek re-election in 2016. Maynard was succeeded by Republican Heather Somers.
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A resident of Stonington, Maynard represented the towns of Griswold, Groton, North Stonington, Plainfield, Preston, Sterling, Stonington and Voluntown.
Career
Prior to his election to the state senate, Maynard had a 10-year career in local and regional government. He had served as Stonington's borough warden since 1999, leading the borough as its chief elected official. Maynard was also heavily involved in the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments, serving as vice chair and leading its Legislative Committee.
Maynard ran for the state senate in 2004, losing by ten points to six-term incumbent Republican State Senator Cathy Cook. Cook retired from the state senate in 2006 to run for State Comptroller which she lost to Democrat Nancy Wyman.
Maynard was educated at St. Bernard High School in Uncasville and earned his bachelor's degree from Connecticut College in New London.
Senate
Maynard won narrow election to the senate in 2006, defeating his Republican opponent, state representative Lenny Winkler, by 51.4% to 48.6% — a margin of 832 votes. He was re-elected by a wide margin in 2008, winning 67% to his opponent's 33%. He was re-elected in 2010, in an unusual campaign which was waged in cooperation with his Republican opponent, Stuart Norman. The two of them traveled together and politely debated each other at campaign stops. This civility was unusual enough in the divisive 2010 election year that it was covered by The Daily Show.
He served as Assistant Majority Whip and as Chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. He was also on the Environment, General Law, and Program Review and Investigations Committees.
Personal life
Maynard is openly gay and was at the time one of two gay members of the Connecticut General Assembly, serving alongside Sen. Beth Bye (D-West Hartford).
2014 Injury
In the early morning hours of July 21, 2014, Maynard fell on the steps outside of his home in Stonington, CT. He was taken to a hospital in Rhode Island, where as of the next day, he was in "serious, but stable" condition. He was not a candidate for re-election.