Tim Sanders | |
|---|---|
| Mayor ofBlaine | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Ryan |
| Member of theMinnesota House of Representatives from the 37B district 51A (2009–2013) | |
| In office January 6, 2009 – January 2, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Scott Kranz |
| Succeeded by | Nolan West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1982-06-02)June 2, 1982 (age 43) |
| Political party | Republican Party of Minnesota |
| Spouse | Farrah |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Minnesota |
| Profession | insurance representative |
Timothy A. Sanders (born 1982) is an American politician serving as the mayor ofBlaine, Minnesota, since 2021 and a former member of theMinnesota House of Representatives. A member of theRepublican Party of Minnesota, he represented District 37B, which included parts ofAnoka County, in the northern part of theTwin Cities metropolitan area, from 2009 to 2017, having decided not to seek reelection in 2016.
Sanders grew up in a military family onWright Patterson Air Force Base nearDayton, Ohio. He graduated from theUniversity of Minnesota inMinneapolis, earning hisB.A. in political science with a minor in history. Sanders worked as an intern for formerU.S. RepresentativeJim Ramstad in hisMinnetonka office.[1][2] He is also a commercial insurance representative forFireman's Fund Insurance Company.[2]
Sanders was first elected in 2008, succeeding first-term Representative Scott Kranz, who moved out of the district. He was reelected in 2010, 2012, and 2014.[3] He did not seek reelection in 2016.[4]
In 2020, Sanders was elected to a four-year term as mayor ofBlaine, Minnesota, and assumed office on 1 January 2021,[5] replacing retiring mayor Tom Ryan.[6]
According to an investigation byKARE, Sanders is alleged to have engaged in nonprofit mismanagement, fraud, and illegal billing of taxpayer dollars meant to help people in addiction recovery as president[7] and executive director[8] of Refocus Recovery.[9] There is an active investigation into Refocus Recovery by the Minnesota Attorney General and the Human Services Inspector General.[10]
In May 2024, KARE reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating Refocus Recovery, writing: "After KARE 11 reports of alleged Medicaid billing irregularities, multiple sources confirm a federal probe of Kyros and Refocus Recovery."[11]
According to theMinnesota Reformer: "The mayor of Blaine is an investor in a baseball-themed restaurant [The Ball Park] going up near a planned massive sports entertainment district that may include a taxpayer-subsidized minor league baseball stadium." Residents have questioned whether Sanders has a conflict of interest, and say the restaurant project won approval in March with little public notice while a now-vocal council opponent was out of town.[12]