Chris Saxman

Christopher B. Saxman (born October 18, 1965) is an American politician of the Republican Party. He is a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 20th District from 2002 to his retirement in 2010. The district included the City of Staunton, the western part of Augusta County, the southern part of Rockingham County, and all of Highland County.

Early life and education After graduating from Robert E. Lee High School, he went on to earn a B.A. in History from Washington and Lee University in 1987. He worked in New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. before returning to Staunton to teach U.S. History and Government for three years at Stuart Hall. He then became general manager of the family business, Shenandoah Valley Water Company, a bottled water and coffee distribution and delivery company.

Political career State politics In November 2001, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. (In the 2001 redistricting, the 20th District was moved to the Staunton area from Danville, where the seat had been held for seven terms by Democrat Whitt Clement.) Since the Spring of 2003, Delegate Saxman has served as Chairman of the House Cost Cutting Caucus, a bipartisan group that works to find cost savings in government.

The Hotline listed Delegate Saxman as one of the top 20 "up-and-coming stars of Virginia politics", in November 2003. In their 2006 edition, The Hotline noted that "many consider him an up-and-coming star in the party."

In addition to his work in the General Assembly, Delegate Saxman serves on the State Water Commission, the Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind Advisory Commission, the Board of Trustees for the Frontier Culture Museum, the board of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, and as a Chairman of the Board of the International Bottled Water Association. He cited his desire to fight for what he calls "projects of my passion." GOP leaders nominated Staunton City Councilor Dickie Bell as the Republican nominee. In the November general election, Bell defeated the Democratic nominee, Erik Curren, marketing director of the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton.

Personal life Delegate Saxman currently resides in Staunton with his wife, Michele, an employee in the family business, and their four children, Mary Kathryn, William, Nora and John.

Saxman's father, Bill, and mother, Jan, are the founders of Shenandoah Valley Water Company.