Joseph Hanslip
Joe Hanslip has been drawn to politics and public service since his youth. His first foray into elective politics was as an 11 year old volunteer in Margaret Chase Smith’s last campaign in 1972. Since that time he has been active at all levels of the political process.
Joe grew up between Maine and Massachusetts but it was his goal at an early age to live in Maine. Joe first came to Sanford – Springvale in 1980 where he was briefly as student at Nasson College. He left to become a police officer. Joe also served as a call firefighter. In 1986 he was seriously injured while on duty. Directing traffic at a motor vehicle accident, he was struck by a car, sustained multiple fractures and internal injuries, and was retired from active duty. In addition to being a police officer, Joe also worked in a family owned textile business so he knows some of the struggles faced by small businesses.
Despite the early end to Joe’s law enforcement career he continued in public service volunteering on community projects and serving in various elected and appointed capacities. Most recently he served from 1997 to 2004 as a York County Commissioner. In February of 2005 Joe was appointed to an unexpired term on Sanford's Town Council. He was re-elected to a three year term in November of 2005 and was elected chairman of the town council in January of 2008.
Joe also serves as a bail commissioner with the state of Maine judicial department, a member of the board of trustees of the Maine Community College system, He is president of the Sanford-Springvale Rotary Club, president of CHAMP (Creative Housing Alternatives for Maine People), president of York County Shelter Program Inc. of Alfred, a member of the Advisory Committee for the Margaret Chase Smith Library Center in Skowhegan, the Springvale Fish and Game Club, the State of Maine Historic Preservation Commission, the Board of Trustees of the Maine Historical Society, and a director of the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society. He served on the committee that restored the former Springvale Town Hall to become the Sanford-Springvale Historical Museum. Joe is also a Dedimus Justice for the state of Maine and Vice Chairman of the York County Democratic Committee. He served on the Maine Democratic State Committee from 2004 to 2006. Joe is a member of the Masons and Shriners, Charitable Irish Society and Fraternal Order of Police. His recreational activities include reading, travel, canoeing, hunting and fishing, movies, music, skiing, snowshoeing, hockey, ice fishing, antique automobiles. hiking, and collecting old license plates.