Sanford Kinzer

Sanford Kinzer

Mr. Kinzer was born and raised in La Grande, Oregon where he attended public schools, 4-H clubs, played sports and enjoyed the outdoors. The first member of his family to graduate from college, he attended Eastern Oregon College his freshman year, and graduated with a degree in Political Science from the University of Oregon in 1970. He later graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Masters Degree in Public Administration, and from Georgetown University Law School in 1977.

Prior to law school Kinzer worked as a lobbiest for the Teamsters Union in Washington, D.C. After graduating he practiced for a year in Seattle, and returned to the other Washington where he worked as staff counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, and as Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). In 1983 Kinzer moved to Seattle and joined the law firm of Preston Gates and Ellis.

Sanford has practiced law as a litigator, and trial lawyer. Between 1989 and 2005 he maintained his office in Everett, Washington representing primarily injured persons. He has been a member and director of many civic organizations, and served as a Trustee at Everett Community College during 2000-05. In July, 2005 he and his wife and two young daughters moved to Ellensburg where they now live and work. Rural dwellers, the Kinzer's have many animals and raise and show American Quarter Horses.