Ray Sansom
| Ray Sansom | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives | |
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In office November 18, 2008 – February 2, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Marco Rubio |
| Succeeded by | Larry Cretul |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 4 district |
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In office 2002–2010 |
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| Succeeded by | Matt Gaetz |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 11, 1962 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Tricia Raimey |
| Religion | Baptist |
Ray Sansom (born July 11, 1962, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida) was a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing portions of Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties from 2002 to February 21, 2010.
Sansom is married to Tricia Raimey Sansom and they have three children. Sansom lists his religious affiliation as Baptist and actively attended Wright Baptist Church in Fort Walton Beach, FL for many years.
Sansom received his Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the Florida State University in 1984 and his Masters in Education from the University of West Florida in 1993. Prior to his election to the Florida House of Representatives, he served on the Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners from 1992 to 2000. He received the Okaloosa County Management Association's Presidents Award in 1999 and the Association of Counties, Freshman of the Year award in 2003.
Sansom was elected Speaker of the Florida House on November 18, 2008. He temporarily stepped down on January 30, 2009, following a scandal over accepting an unadvertised job. He was formally charged with third-degree felony grand theft and conspiracy.
On February 2, Sansom resigned the speakership just minutes before his caucus was due to oust him. His resignation was on the eve of his criminal trial for misappropriation of state tax dollars. If Sansom had remained at his post, he could have been the first lawmaker "expelled from the Chamber in nearly 50 years".
Prior to his election to the Florida House of Representatives, Sansom served on the Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners from 1992 to 2000. He received the Okaloosa County Management Association's Presidents Award in 1999.
1n 2008, Sansom was one of the driving forces pushing to create an "oversight board for community colleges that emphasizes undergraduate education". This proposal received resistance from some community college presidents who were not for the change and also from private colleges who offered 4-year degrees on these community college campuses.
Also in 2008, Sansom was appointed Vice President for Development and Planning at NWF State College - his former alma mater from his hometown. The college's Board of Trustees appointed Sansom to this position. This was the same week Sansom was sworn in as the Florida Speaker of the House.
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