Ray Sansom

Ray Sansom (born July 11, 1962) is an American politician who 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, Florida for many years.

Sansom received his bachelor's degree in political science from the Florida State University in 1984 and his master's degree 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 before the House considered an action that could have removed him as speaker and expelled him from the legislature. His resignation was on the eve of his criminal trial for misappropriation of state tax dollars. If Sansom had been removed by the vote by the House members, he would have been the first lawmaker expelled from the Chamber in nearly 50 years.

Eventually, the state failed to prove their charges, and all counts were dropped.