Many extraordinary educators also serve as effective politicians. A great example of this is Chandler E. Woodcock, a high school English teacher and basketball coach who has also served his community as a state senator in Maine from 2000 to 2006.Chandler was born in Mechanic Falls, Maine, and was raised in nearby Farmington. His father was a manager at the Forster Manufacturing Company. Both Chandler's parents served in the military during World War II.
During his boyhood, Chandler was elected president of his class several times.
After he graduated from high school, he enlisted in the US Army and served a tour of duty during the Viet Nam War. When he returned from Viet Nam, Chandler enrolled in the University of Maine at Farmington, where he earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education. He then taught English for over twenty-five years in the public school system, serving at Livermore Falls High School, Mt. Blue High School, and the Skowhegan Area High School. At each school, this talented teacher served as the basketball coach, and he even led the Mt. Blue High School girls' varsity team to two state championships.
In adition to his teaching career, Chandler served five years on the Board of Selctement in Farmington, one of those years as the chairman of the board, before being elected to the Maine State Senate in 2000. During his first term, the former educator served on the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee and the Legal and Veterans' Affairs Committee. During his second term, he served as Assistant Senate Republican Leader and on the Judiciary Committee. In January, 2009, Chandler became the executive director of the Maine Harness Horsemen's Association. With State Representative Tom Saviello of Wilton, Chandler is also the co-host of a public-access television talk show on Mt. Blue Community Access TV entitled "Talkin' Maine with the Bow Tie Boys." Both Chandler and his co-host are known locally for wearing bow ties.
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