Leroy Saunders

Leroy Saunders (born June 3, 1969) is an American entrepreneur and was an unsuccessful contender for the presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party in the 2012 United States presidential election.

Early life
Leroy Saunders was born in Harlem, New York on June 3, 1969. His parents separated when he was an infant and he was raised for the most part by his mother. He attended a Catholic elementary school, and Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, before dropping out his junior year after not attending summer school. Saunders then moved in with his paternal mother in Brooklyn and attended Louis D. Brandeis High School in Manhattan, from where he graduated in 1987. He briefly attended Grambling State University in 1988, before dropping out due to financial issues. Saunders was arrested in 1990 and served three months in the Essex County Jail in North Caldwell, New Jersey for drug trafficking. While in jail, he promised God that if he was released from jail he would never use drugs again. Soon after, his aunt bailed him out, and that fall he enrolled at Stony Brook University as a freshman. He played on the University’s football team, which gave him the opportunity to play at the Levis Bowl in Amsterdam. During this time, Saunders worked waited tables at the University’s restaurant and later worked as a male stripper. He graduated from SBU in 1994 with a GPA of 3.75.

Entrepreneurship
Saunders has started a trucking company, a chain of 24 hour childcare facilities, a commercial cleaning franchise, as well as an unsuccessful clothing line with several friends.

Personal life
While working at a Wall Street telecommunications firm, Saunders fell in love with a co-worker, Kelly, who he married and had two children with. In 2005 the couple bought a home in and moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Saunders launched a limousine business. According to his website, Saunders enjoys watching General Hospital and volunteering as a little league football coach.

Libertarian candidate
Saunders unsuccessfuly ran for the nomination of the Libertarian Party in the United States presidential election, 2012. In February 2012–along with Gary Johnson, Lee Wrights, Bill Still, and Carl Person–he participated in a debate held by Libertarian Party of Florida and moderated by LPUSA Chair Mark Hinkle.