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.
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 $64,000 he received in gifts over a four 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 was charged and later pled guilty to a single misdemeanor for violating RSA 640:5 Gifts to Public Servants, for taking money from people likely to have business before the legislature. He was forced to pay the maximum fine of $2,000 and perform 100 hours of community service. Chandler lost his position as speaker and received a censure from the House for violating House Ethics Rules but 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." In the 2007-2008 biennium, House Republican Leader Michael Whalley appointed Chandler as Republican Policy Leader, the number 3 person in the Republican Caucus.
