Andrew M. Maynard Politician
Andrew M. Maynard is an American politician from Connecticut. A Democrat, he is a member of the Connecticut State Senate representing the state's 18th district.A resident of Stonington, Maynard represents the towns of Griswold, Groton, North Stonington, Plainfield, Preston, Sterling, Stonington and Voluntown.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 serves as Assistant Majority Whip and as Chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. He also serves on the Environment, General Law, and Program Review and Investigations Committees.Prior to his election to the senate, Andrew 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. He was also heavily involved in the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments, serving as vice chair and leading its Legislative Committee.He had run for the senate in 2004, losing by ten points to six-term incumbent Cathy Cook. Cook retired from the senate in 2006, and joined the Rell ticket running for the post of state comptroller, losing to Nancy Wyman.Maynard was educated at St. Bernard High School in Uncasville and earned his bachelor's degree from Connecticut College in New London.Maynard is openly gay and is one of two gay members of the Connecticut General Assembly, serving alongside Sen. Beth Bye (D-West Hartford).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.