Marlin Stutzman
Encyclopedia
Marlin Andrew Stutzman is a Republican
member of the United States House of Representatives
. He previously was a member of the Indiana Senate
representing the 13th district, where he served from 2009 to 2010 and he was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives
from 2002 to 2008 representing District 52.
On June 12, 2010, Stutzman won the Republican nomination for the general election and special election
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mark Souder
, congressman for Indiana's 3rd congressional district
. Stutzman defeated 14 other candidates on the second ballot by winning a simple majority (229) of the 400 votes cast by precinct committee members.
Stutzman was a candidate in the 2010 U.S. Senate election
, but was defeated in the primary election
by former Senator Dan Coats
.
. He graduated from Lake Area Christian High School located in Sturgis, Michigan in 1994. He attended Glen Oaks Community College
in 1999 and Tri-State University
from 2005 to 2007. As co-owner with his father, Albert, he runs Stutzman Farms, farming 4000 acres (16.2 km²) in the Michiana area. He is also owner of Stutzman Farms Trucking.
First elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 2002, at the age of 26, Stutzman served as the youngest member of the legislature until 2006. In 2009 he was elected to the Indiana Senate representing the 13th district. He ran for the Republican nomination for the 2010 U.S. Senate election
in a bid to replace retiring incumbent Evan Bayh
.
Committees
Legislation
Stutzman was elected in a November 2, 2010 special election to fill the rest of resigning Representative Mark Souder
's term. He was simultaneously elected to a full two year term to expire in 2013.
He served as the ranking member of the State Senate Utilities and Technology Committee and helped to pass alternative energy incentive legislation in Indiana.
In 2006 he served as the Chairman of the Public Policy Committee taking strong stands for conservative values on controversial issues.
was sent to Noble County
prosecutor Steven Clouse and GOP county chairman Randy Kirkpatrick regarding Stutzman's campaign finance "problem", Souder's affair with staffer Tracy Jackson, and predictions on the Republican's caucus to replace Souder on the November ballot. The fourteen point message was eventually forwarded on to Republican leaders, journalist, and media outlets. Souder confirmed the authenticity of the message to The Journal Gazette by e-mail, but he declined to comment beyond saying it was intended to be a private message.
In the Facebook message, Souder touts Stutzman as the favorite in the caucus but also asserts that Stutzman possibly played a role in making Souder’s affair public. Tracy Jackson's husband, Brad, is mentioned throughout the message as having flown Stutzman, while he was a United States Senate candidate, to numerous campaign stops throughout the state without reporting it to the FEC
.
Stutzman's only response to date regarding the unreported flights by Brad Jackson, "He (Souder) should be focusing on his family and his marriage right now. If he had concerns about our finances – which he shouldn’t – why didn’t he talk to me?”
. He lost to former U.S. Senator Dan Coats
in the primary.
(R-IN) resigned after admitting to a sex scandal. This event occurred after he won the Republican primary on May 4. On June 12, Republicans from Indiana's third district met in Columbia City
to choose Souder's replacement. Stutzman won decisively on the second ballot. He defeated the Democratic candidate in both the general election and the special election to fill the remainder of Souder's term (both held on the same day).
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...
member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He previously was a member of the Indiana Senate
Indiana Senate
The Indiana Senate is the upper house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The Senate is composed of 50 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. Senators serve four-year terms without term limits...
representing the 13th district, where he served from 2009 to 2010 and he was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives
Indiana House of Representatives
The Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...
from 2002 to 2008 representing District 52.
On June 12, 2010, Stutzman won the Republican nomination for the general election and special election
Special elections to the United States House of Representatives
This is a list of special elections to the United States House of Representatives. Such elections are called by state governors to fill the vacancies that occur when a member of the House of Representatives dies or resigns before the biennial general election...
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mark Souder
Mark Souder
Mark Edward Souder is an American Republican politician who was a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1995 to 2010.During the 1980s and early 1990s, he worked as a congressional aide to Dan Coats and committee staff director. He was elected to his congressional seat in 1994...
, congressman for Indiana's 3rd congressional district
Indiana's 3rd congressional district
Indiana's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana. Based in Fort Wayne, the district takes in the northeastern part of the state and includes Goshen....
. Stutzman defeated 14 other candidates on the second ballot by winning a simple majority (229) of the 400 votes cast by precinct committee members.
Stutzman was a candidate in the 2010 U.S. Senate election
United States Senate election in Indiana, 2010
-Hostettler:-Stutzman:-Polling:-Results:-Candidates:*Brad Ellsworth , U.S. Congressman*Dan Coats , former U.S. Senator*Rebecca Sink-Burris , Teacher and small business owner-Campaign:...
, but was defeated in the primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
by former Senator Dan Coats
Dan Coats
Daniel Ray "Dan" Coats is the junior United States Senator from Indiana and member of the Republican Party. He was in the United States Senate from from 1989 to 1999, retired, and then returned in 2011....
.
Early life, education and career
Stutzman is a fourth-generation farmer who grew up on a farm located in both Saint Joseph County, Michigan and LaGrange County, IndianaLaGrange County, Indiana
LaGrange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana and in the Northern Indiana region known as Michiana. As of 2010, the population was 37,128. The county is located about east of South Bend, west of Toledo, Ohio, and northeast of Indianapolis. The area is well known for its large...
. He graduated from Lake Area Christian High School located in Sturgis, Michigan in 1994. He attended Glen Oaks Community College
Glen Oaks Community College
Glen Oaks Community College is a community college located in the village of Centreville, Michigan, USA in Saint Joseph County.-History:In 1965, Nora Hagen donated a considerable amount of land in Sherman Township to Glen Oaks and, soon after, Glen Oaks was approved by the state as a credible...
in 1999 and Tri-State University
Tri-State University
Trine University is a postsecondary educational institution based in Angola, Indiana, United States. It has satellite campuses in South Bend/Mishawaka, Schererville, Logansport, Indiana, Indianapolis, Howe, Columbus Warsaw, and Fort Wayne.-History:...
from 2005 to 2007. As co-owner with his father, Albert, he runs Stutzman Farms, farming 4000 acres (16.2 km²) in the Michiana area. He is also owner of Stutzman Farms Trucking.
State politics
- 2002–2008, Representative, Indiana State House, District 52
- 2005–2008, Special Assistant, Rep. Mark Souder, District 3
- 2009–2010, Senator, Indiana State Senate, District 13 (includes Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben and DeKalb counties)
First elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 2002, at the age of 26, Stutzman served as the youngest member of the legislature until 2006. In 2009 he was elected to the Indiana Senate representing the 13th district. He ran for the Republican nomination for the 2010 U.S. Senate election
United States Senate election in Indiana, 2010
-Hostettler:-Stutzman:-Polling:-Results:-Candidates:*Brad Ellsworth , U.S. Congressman*Dan Coats , former U.S. Senator*Rebecca Sink-Burris , Teacher and small business owner-Campaign:...
in a bid to replace retiring incumbent Evan Bayh
Evan Bayh
Birch Evans "Evan" Bayh III is a lawyer, advisor and former Democratic politician who served as the junior U.S. Senator from Indiana from 1999 to 2011. He earlier served as the 46th Governor of Indiana from 1989 to 1997. Bayh is a current Fox News contributor as of March 14, 2011.Bayh first held...
.
Committees
- Commerce, Public Policy & Interstate Cooperation
- Pensions & Labor
- Utilities & Technology- Ranking Member
- Natural Resources
Legislation
- Alternative Energy Incentive - Sponsor 2009
- Reduce Government Inefficiencies & Waste - Co-Author 2002
- Truth in Sentencing Amendment - Author
- Military Family Relief Fund - Author 2007
- SB 528: Indiana School Scholarship Tax Credit - Author
Committee assignments
- Committee on AgricultureUnited States House Committee on AgricultureThe U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, or Agriculture Committee is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The House Committee on Agriculture has general jurisdiction over federal agriculture policy and oversight of some federal agencies, and it can recommend funding...
- Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry
- Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture
- Committee on the BudgetUnited States House Committee on the BudgetThe U.S. House Committee on the Budget, commonly known as the House Budget Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress...
- Committee on Veterans' AffairsUnited States House Committee on Veterans' AffairsThe standing Committee on Veterans' Affairs in the United States House of Representatives oversees agencies, reviews current legislation, and recommends new bills or amendments concerning veterans. Jurisdiction includes retiring and disability pensions, life insurance, education , vocational...
- Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial AffairsUnited States House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial AffairsThe United States Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs is one of the four subcommittees within the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.-Jurisdiction:From the House Rules:...
- Subcommittee on Economic OpportunityUnited States House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic OpportunityThe United States Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity is one of the four subcommittees within the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.-Jurisdiction:From the House Rules:...
(Chairman)
- Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
Stutzman was elected in a November 2, 2010 special election to fill the rest of resigning Representative Mark Souder
Mark Souder
Mark Edward Souder is an American Republican politician who was a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1995 to 2010.During the 1980s and early 1990s, he worked as a congressional aide to Dan Coats and committee staff director. He was elected to his congressional seat in 1994...
's term. He was simultaneously elected to a full two year term to expire in 2013.
Political positions
Stutzman consistently received 90% ratings or above from the Chamber of Commerce and other small business associations for his support of pro-business legislation. In 2008 he won the Small Business Champion Award from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. He was cited as a Taxpayer Friendly State Legislators by Indiana WatchDog an independent, volunteer organization.He served as the ranking member of the State Senate Utilities and Technology Committee and helped to pass alternative energy incentive legislation in Indiana.
In 2006 he served as the Chairman of the Public Policy Committee taking strong stands for conservative values on controversial issues.
Government waste
Stutzman advocates for more accountability in state government operations. He co-authored a bill to establish the Hoosier Grace Commission which passed in 2003. The commission helped eliminate wasteful government spending and has brought fraud and/or scandals to public awareness.Education
Stutzman authored a bill that requires more money to go directly to the classroom. The bill was instrumental in paying back the $600 million that was owed by State Government to schools, and increased funding for students 6 years in a row.Ethics allegation
On June 6, 2010 a Facebook email from former Rep. Mark SouderMark Souder
Mark Edward Souder is an American Republican politician who was a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1995 to 2010.During the 1980s and early 1990s, he worked as a congressional aide to Dan Coats and committee staff director. He was elected to his congressional seat in 1994...
was sent to Noble County
Noble County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,275 people, 16,696 households, and 12,288 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 18,233 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
prosecutor Steven Clouse and GOP county chairman Randy Kirkpatrick regarding Stutzman's campaign finance "problem", Souder's affair with staffer Tracy Jackson, and predictions on the Republican's caucus to replace Souder on the November ballot. The fourteen point message was eventually forwarded on to Republican leaders, journalist, and media outlets. Souder confirmed the authenticity of the message to The Journal Gazette by e-mail, but he declined to comment beyond saying it was intended to be a private message.
In the Facebook message, Souder touts Stutzman as the favorite in the caucus but also asserts that Stutzman possibly played a role in making Souder’s affair public. Tracy Jackson's husband, Brad, is mentioned throughout the message as having flown Stutzman, while he was a United States Senate candidate, to numerous campaign stops throughout the state without reporting it to the FEC
Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States. It was created in a provision of the 1975 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act...
.
Stutzman's only response to date regarding the unreported flights by Brad Jackson, "He (Souder) should be focusing on his family and his marriage right now. If he had concerns about our finances – which he shouldn’t – why didn’t he talk to me?”
2010 U.S. Senate campaign
Stutzman ran for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by incumbent Evan BayhEvan Bayh
Birch Evans "Evan" Bayh III is a lawyer, advisor and former Democratic politician who served as the junior U.S. Senator from Indiana from 1999 to 2011. He earlier served as the 46th Governor of Indiana from 1989 to 1997. Bayh is a current Fox News contributor as of March 14, 2011.Bayh first held...
. He lost to former U.S. Senator Dan Coats
Dan Coats
Daniel Ray "Dan" Coats is the junior United States Senator from Indiana and member of the Republican Party. He was in the United States Senate from from 1989 to 1999, retired, and then returned in 2011....
in the primary.
2010 U.S. House campaign
Incumbent U.S. Representative Mark SouderMark Souder
Mark Edward Souder is an American Republican politician who was a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1995 to 2010.During the 1980s and early 1990s, he worked as a congressional aide to Dan Coats and committee staff director. He was elected to his congressional seat in 1994...
(R-IN) resigned after admitting to a sex scandal. This event occurred after he won the Republican primary on May 4. On June 12, Republicans from Indiana's third district met in Columbia City
Columbia City, Indiana
Columbia City is a city in Columbia Township, Whitley County, Indiana, United States. The population was 8,750 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Whitley County.-Geography:Columbia City is located at...
to choose Souder's replacement. Stutzman won decisively on the second ballot. He defeated the Democratic candidate in both the general election and the special election to fill the remainder of Souder's term (both held on the same day).
Electoral history
External links
- Representative Marlin Stutzman official website
- Marlin Stutzman for U.S. Congress campaign site
- Salary data as Congressional staffer at Legistorm.com