Heather Sanborn
Heather B. Sanborn is an American attorney, business owner and politician representing District 28 (portions of the cities of Portland and Westbrook) in the Maine State Senate. Sanborn co-owns and operates Rising Tide Brewery in Portland with her husband.
Heather Sanborn | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Maine Senate from the 28th district | |
| In office December 2018 – December 7, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Mark Dion |
| Succeeded by | Jill Duson |
| Member of the Maine House of Representatives from the 43rd district | |
| In office 2016–2018 | |
| Preceded by | Mark Dion |
| Succeeded by | W. Edward Crockett |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Nathan Sanborn |
| Residence | Portland, Maine |
| Alma mater | Middlebury College University of Southern Maine USM School of Law |
| Profession | Teacher Attorney Business director, Rising Tide Brewery |
| Website | heathersanborn |
Early life and education
Sanborn grew up in Portland[1] and attended Middlebury College where she graduated summa cum laude as the salutatorian of her class in 1997.[2] She received a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern Maine in 2004[2] and taught high school in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.[1]
Sanborn graduated from the University of Maine School of Law in 2007 where she was the editor-in-chief of the Maine Law Review. [1] She worked as a law clerk to Kermit Lipez on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and as an associate in the litigation department at Ropes & Gray.[1] She has served on the boards of the Portland Development Corporation [3] and University Credit Union.[4]
Brewery & beer industry advocacy
Rising Tide Brewery
Sanborn and her husband, Nathan Sanborn, co-own Rising Tide Brewery in Portland, Maine, and Heather serves as the director of business operations.[5] The brewery opened in 2010 and quickly outgrew its initial space, relocating in 2012.[6] As of 2020, Rising Tide employs 29 people and produces 4,500 barrels of beer per year.[7] Sanborn has served as the President of the Maine Brewers' Guild and has drawn on her law background to advocate for breweries around Maine.[1][5]
2012 tasting room law
Sanborn has drawn on her legal background to advocate for state-level policy changes that benefit Maine's craft beer industry.[8] In collaboration with the Maine Brewer's Guild, she submitted a bill to the 125th Maine Legislature that would permit breweries to sell their products on-site. At the time, breweries in Maine were only permitted to give away small samples of their products,[9] a business model which Sanborn and other industry leaders argued was not conducive to customer interaction and beer tourism.[10] The bill, LD #1889, was signed into law in April 2012.[10]
Political career
Sanborn ran unopposed for the 2016 Maine House of Representatives District 43 Democratic primary, and defeated Republican opponent Jeffrey Langholtz 65%-35% in the general election.[11]
In June 2018, Sanborn won a contested primary against Portland City Councilor Jill Duson.[12]
Sanborn ran unopposed in both the Democratic primary and in the general election in 2020 and was therefore elected to her second term representing District 28 in the Maine Senate.[11]
Electoral record
Maine State House
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Heather Sanborn | 3,632 | 65.0% | |
| Republican | Jeffrey Langholtz | 1,957 | 35.0% | |
| Total votes | 5,589 | 100.0% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
Maine State Senate
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Heather Sanborn | 3.093 | 58.6% | |
| Democratic | Jill Duson | 2,188 | 41.4% | |
| Total votes | 5,281 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Heather Sanborn | 15,940 | 81.0% | |
| Independent | Write-in candidates | 3,729 | 19.0% | |
| Total votes | 24,796 | 100.0% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Heather Sanborn | 20,173 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 20,173 | 100.0% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
External links
References
- "Heather Sanborn '07, summa cum laude". University of Maine School of Law. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- "Ms. Heather B. Sanborn". Martindale. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- "Heather Sanborn". Maine Senate Democrats. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- "League endorsed candidate wins primary race". Maine Credit Union League. 14 June 2018. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- Martin, Dylan (10 August 2015). "Women to Watch: Heather Sanborn, Rising Tide Brewing". Mainebiz. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- "Rising Tide Brewing Company". U.S. Small Business Administration. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- "Our Story". risingtidebrewing.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- "Lawyer turned brewer helps Maine's alcohol laws evolve". News Center Maine. 21 May 2014. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- "Maine on Tap: The Beer Boom". WGME. 2 June 2018. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- Lauter, Carla Jean (13 April 2018). "Happy birthday to the bill that changed Maine's beer industry". Maine Today. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- "Heather Sanborn". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- Graham, Gillian (June 12, 2018). "Portland Rep. Sanborn wins Democratic primary for state senate". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 12 January 2019.