Robert Sampson (politician)

Sampson was raised in Meriden; since 2003, he has lived in Wolcott.[2]

Sampson, a real estate agent and insurance agent,[3] was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives, representing the 80th State House District, in 2010, and served four terms in the House.[1] Sampson defeated incumbent Democrat John "Corky" Mazurek in 2010, and won rematches against Mazurek in 2012 and 2014.[2] Sampson was elected in 2016 unopposed.[4] Sampson was elected in 2018 to the State Senate from the 16th State Senate district, to an open seat vacated by Joe Markley.[5]

Sampson opposes union security agreements, also called "fair share fees" (which he describes as "forced unionization"), for child care providers and personal care attendants; he expressed support for the Supreme Court's decisions in Harris v. Quinn, which limited the power of labor unions to collect such fees.[6] He opposed the New Britain to Hartford Busway.[7]

Sampson is a staunch opponent of gun control.[1] In 2013, after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, he voted against a bipartisan gun control bill; in 2015, he introduced a measure to repeal the law.[1] In 2019, Sampson and fellow Republican John Kissel were the only senators to vote against "Ethan's Law," a safe storage law requiring gun owners to safely store firearms (whether loaded or unloaded) while not in use; the bill passed 31–2.[8][9] Sampson has received awards from the Connecticut Citizens Defense League[10] and National Rifle Association.[11]

Sampson opposed the Connecticut Supreme Court's 4–3 decision in 2008 determining that same-sex couples have a state constitutional right to marry.[1] In 2019, Sampson called the decision a "crucial mistake" and, citing the decision, was the sole Senator to vote against the confirmation of Lubbie Harper Jr. (a retired Supreme Court justice) for serve as a part-time trial referee; Harper was confirmed 33-1.[1] In 2017, Sampson was one of seven state House representatives to vote against legislation banning so-called conversion therapy.[1][12]

In 2013, Sampson was one of two state lawmakers who voted against a measure requiring officials to consider the necessity of mitigation for sea level rise when making water treatment facility funding decisions. Sampson said he acknowledged climate change, but was opposed to a state mandate for local officials.[1]

In 2019, Sampson was one of three state Senators who voted against a tobacco control bill raising the legal age to purchase cigarettes and other tobacco products from age 18 to age 21.[13]

Robert Charles Sampson was born on August 28, 1970, in Meriden, Connecticut. He attended and graduated from Meriden Public Schools and he also attended Central Connecticut State Univerisity. He married Lisa Hartson in 1992 the couple later divorced. Sampson next married Tammy Bagdigian in 2008 and the couple divorced in 2012. Sampson has no children. He has lived in Wolcott, Connecticut since 2003.[1]