Born in April 1960 at Oshawa, Ontario, Hendsbee graduated from Saint Mary's University with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.
[5][6] Hendsbee turned to municipal politics and was elected a councillor in Halifax County, Nova Scotia.
[8] Hendsbee ran for the Progressive Conservatives in the 1999 election,[9] and defeated New Democrat incumbent Yvonne Atwell by 304 votes in the Preston riding.
[10][11] He served as a backbench member of John Hamm's government, and was defeated by Liberal Keith Colwell when he ran for re-election in 2003.
[12][13] Following his defeat, Hendsbee announced he would run in a municipal byelection for his old Halifax Regional Council seat.