Corey Stapleton
Encyclopedia
Corey Stapleton is a Republican
and former Montana
State Senator
of 8 years. He is currently running for the Governor's office in Montana.
. He was adopted as an infant and lived in Idaho Falls, Idaho
until age 2, moved to Great Falls, Montana
in 1969.
Parents: Tobias “Toby” and Avis Stapleton, brother Todd Stapleton, sisters Kymm (Stapleton) Mutch, and Rachel (Stapleton) Burner, foster sister Traci Reed. Father is a retired architect and colonel in the Army reserve from Lewistown, Montana
. Mother was a teacher of home economics, from Livingston, Montana
.
As a child Corey participated in athletics and music. He and his childhood sweetheart and future wife Terry (Getten) Stapleton began dating their junior year of high school.
’s nuclear power program through the Deferred Entry Program at the end of his junior year of high school, and went to boot camp
in Orlando, Florida
, the following year after graduation in 1986.
In the summer heat of Orlando, Corey quickly ascended into the top leadership position of his boot camp company, earning Honor Recruit, and gaining the attention of military superiors. Within months he was nominated by the Secretary of the Navy to attend the Naval Academy
’s prep school in Newport, Rhode Island
. Serving as battalion adjutant and earning Most Inspirational wrestler award there, he earned appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland
.
The academy years were challenging for Corey, but he wrestled and fought his way through four tough years on the Yard, earning a naval officer’s commission and Bachelor of Science
degree in engineering
. Corey and Terry were married June 6, 1992 in Great Falls. He served as a Surface Warfare Officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy
(CV-67) and the Aegis cruiser
USS Hué City
(CG-66), earning numerous awards, qualifications, and commendations before voluntarily resigning his naval commission and returning to Montana in 1997.
, as a financial advisor primarily working with families and their retirement needs. In 2000 he won a three-way Republican primary
and then general election
to become the first Generation X
-er elected to the Montana State Senate. Within a couple years he was elected Majority Whip and he would serve continuously in leadership positions until term-limited out of office in 2008. He served as Senate Minority Leader in the contentious 2007 legislative session, which ended without a budget compromise between the Democratic
-controlled senate and Republican
-controlled House. With tensions high and trust low, Gov. Brian Schweitzer
(D-MT) thanked Sen. Stapleton for his leadership in brokering the final special session truce, thus allowing the 2007 legislature to adjourn.
During his tenure in the Senate, Corey sponsored several pieces of legislation including Otter Creek Coal development (SB409 2003) the attempted creation of a Montana medical school (SB273 2005) the Montana National Guard Relief Act (SB75) and the demand for reorganization and replacement of the Montana Department of Revenue’s failed computer system POINTS (SB271 2003)
The conservative lawmaker was a hawk on the Senate Finance and Claims committee as well as the Legislative Audit committee He was a member of the Heritage Foundation
’s prestigious Legislative Leaders Council and travelled to Taiwan, Japan, and Turkey
representing Montana. In 2006 he was the architect of Republican legislative candidates’ “Handshake with Montana” similar to the 1994 Republican Party
“Contract with America
” and put Montana Republicans back into control of the House and split control of the United States Senate
.
Corey Stapleton is currently running for Governor of Montana in 2012.
, golf
, and running marathons and triathlons. He has served on various community boards including Montana Manufacturing Extension board, Rotary
, American Legion
, and the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind foundation
His family attends Faith Chapel church in Billings
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and former Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
State Senator
State Senator
A state senator is a member of a state's Senate, the upper house in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a legislator in Nebraska's one house State Legislature.There are typically fewer state senators than there are members of a state's lower house...
of 8 years. He is currently running for the Governor's office in Montana.
Childhood
Corey was born in Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. He was adopted as an infant and lived in Idaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls is a city in and the county seat of Bonneville County, Idaho, United States, and the largest city in Eastern Idaho. As of the 2010 census, the population of Idaho Falls was 56,813, with a metro population of 130,374....
until age 2, moved to Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
in 1969.
Parents: Tobias “Toby” and Avis Stapleton, brother Todd Stapleton, sisters Kymm (Stapleton) Mutch, and Rachel (Stapleton) Burner, foster sister Traci Reed. Father is a retired architect and colonel in the Army reserve from Lewistown, Montana
Lewistown, Montana
Lewistown is a city in and the county seat of Fergus County, Montana, United States. The population was 5,813 at the 2000 census. Lewistown is located in central Montana, the geographic center of the state, southeast of Great Falls...
. Mother was a teacher of home economics, from Livingston, Montana
Livingston, Montana
-Geography:Livingston is located at , at an altitude of 4.501 feet .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 0.38% is waters.-Climate:-Demographics:...
.
As a child Corey participated in athletics and music. He and his childhood sweetheart and future wife Terry (Getten) Stapleton began dating their junior year of high school.
Navy
Corey enlisted into the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
’s nuclear power program through the Deferred Entry Program at the end of his junior year of high school, and went to boot camp
Recruit training
Recruit training, more commonly known as Basic Training and colloquially called Boot Camp, is the initial indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel, enlisted and officer...
in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, the following year after graduation in 1986.
In the summer heat of Orlando, Corey quickly ascended into the top leadership position of his boot camp company, earning Honor Recruit, and gaining the attention of military superiors. Within months he was nominated by the Secretary of the Navy to attend the Naval Academy
Naval Academy
-Institutions:* The United States Naval Academy* The Indian Naval Academy of India* The Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy of Bulgaria* The Imperial Japanese Naval Academy* The École Navale of France* The Britannia Royal Naval College of the United Kingdom...
’s prep school in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
. Serving as battalion adjutant and earning Most Inspirational wrestler award there, he earned appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
.
The academy years were challenging for Corey, but he wrestled and fought his way through four tough years on the Yard, earning a naval officer’s commission and Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
. Corey and Terry were married June 6, 1992 in Great Falls. He served as a Surface Warfare Officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy
USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)
USS John F. Kennedy is a John F. Kennedy class aircraft carrier, the last conventionally powered carrier built for the United States Navy. The ship is named after the 35th President of the United States, John F...
(CV-67) and the Aegis cruiser
Ticonderoga class cruiser
The Ticonderoga class of missile cruisers is a class of warships in the United States Navy, first ordered and authorized in FY 1978. The class uses phased-array radar and was originally planned as a class of destroyers...
USS Hué City
USS Hué City (CG-66)
USS Hué City is a Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser serving in the United States Navy. She is named for the Battle of Hue, fought in the city during the Tet Offensive 1968 by the 1st Marines during the Vietnam War...
(CG-66), earning numerous awards, qualifications, and commendations before voluntarily resigning his naval commission and returning to Montana in 1997.
Political
Leaving the navy, Corey began his current-day occupation in Billings, MontanaBillings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
, as a financial advisor primarily working with families and their retirement needs. In 2000 he won a three-way Republican primary
Primary
The word Primary when used alone may refer to any of the following:* Primary , the larger of two co-orbiting bodies* Primary is used for the name of the primary mirror in a telescope.* Primary , from Australia...
and then general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
to become the first Generation X
Generation X
Generation X, commonly abbreviated to Gen X, is the generation born after the Western post–World War II baby boom ended. While there is no universally agreed upon time frame, the term generally includes people born from the early 1960's through the early 1980's, usually no later than 1981 or...
-er elected to the Montana State Senate. Within a couple years he was elected Majority Whip and he would serve continuously in leadership positions until term-limited out of office in 2008. He served as Senate Minority Leader in the contentious 2007 legislative session, which ended without a budget compromise between the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
-controlled senate and Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
-controlled House. With tensions high and trust low, Gov. Brian Schweitzer
Brian Schweitzer
Brian David Schweitzer is an American politician from the U.S. state of Montana. Schweitzer is its 23rd and current governor, serving since January 2005. Schweitzer currently has one of the highest approval ratings among governors in the nation, with polls regularly showing a rating of above 60...
(D-MT) thanked Sen. Stapleton for his leadership in brokering the final special session truce, thus allowing the 2007 legislature to adjourn.
During his tenure in the Senate, Corey sponsored several pieces of legislation including Otter Creek Coal development (SB409 2003) the attempted creation of a Montana medical school (SB273 2005) the Montana National Guard Relief Act (SB75) and the demand for reorganization and replacement of the Montana Department of Revenue’s failed computer system POINTS (SB271 2003)
The conservative lawmaker was a hawk on the Senate Finance and Claims committee as well as the Legislative Audit committee He was a member of the Heritage Foundation
Heritage Foundation
The Heritage Foundation is a conservative American think tank based in Washington, D.C. Heritage's stated mission is to "formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong...
’s prestigious Legislative Leaders Council and travelled to Taiwan, Japan, and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
representing Montana. In 2006 he was the architect of Republican legislative candidates’ “Handshake with Montana” similar to the 1994 Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
“Contract with America
Contract with America
The Contract with America was a document released by the United States Republican Party during the 1994 Congressional election campaign. Written by Larry Hunter, who was aided by Newt Gingrich, Robert Walker, Richard Armey, Bill Paxon, Tom DeLay, John Boehner and Jim Nussle, and in part using text...
” and put Montana Republicans back into control of the House and split control of the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
Corey Stapleton is currently running for Governor of Montana in 2012.
Personal
Corey and Terry have four children. Corey enjoys playing soccer, basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, and running marathons and triathlons. He has served on various community boards including Montana Manufacturing Extension board, Rotary
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
, American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
, and the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind foundation
His family attends Faith Chapel church in Billings