Marlin Stutzman

Marlin Stutzman
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 2, 2010
Preceded by Mark Souder
Member of the Indiana Senate
from the 13th district
In office
2009–2010
Preceded by Robert L. Meeks
Succeeded by Sue Glick
Member of the Indiana House of Representatives
from the 52nd district
In office
2002–2008
Preceded by Dale Sturtz
Succeeded by David Yarde II
Personal details
Born Marlin Andrew Stutzman[1]
August 31, 1976
Sturgis, Michigan
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Christy Stutzman
Children Payton Stutzman, Preston Stutzman
Residence Howe, Indiana
Alma mater Glen Oaks Community College
(1999)
Tri-State University
(2005–2007)
Occupation politician, small business owner, farmer
Religion Baptist
Website Campaign website

Marlin Andrew Stutzman (born August 31, 1976) is an American politician who has been a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Indiana's 3rd congressional district, since 2010. A Republican, Stutzman previously served as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 2002 to 2008, representing district 52, and as a member of the Indiana Senate, representing the 13th district, from 2009 to 2010.[2]

Stutzman was a candidate in the 2010 U.S. Senate election, but was defeated in the primary election in May 2010 by former Senator Dan Coats.[3]

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.[4] Stutzman defeated 14 other candidates on the second ballot by winning a simple majority (229) of the 400 votes cast by precinct committee members.

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, Indiana. 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 4,000 acres (16 km2) in the Michiana area. He is also owner of Stutzman Farms Trucking.[5]

State politics

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

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

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.

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 [12] from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. He was cited as a Taxpayer Friendly State Legislators by Indiana WatchDog [13] an independent, volunteer organization.

He served as the ranking member of the Indiana 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 Indiana Public Policy Committee taking strong stands for conservative values on controversial issues.

Federal Government Shutdown of 2013

Stutzman supported the shutdown of the U.S. government in 2013 but said he did not know what would be gained from it, saying, “We’re not going to be disrespected. We have to get something out of this. And I don’t know what that even is.”[14]

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 state government spending and has brought fraud and/or scandals to public awareness.[15]

Education

Stutzman authored a bill that required 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 six years in a row.

Affordable Health Care Act

In Congress, Stutzman has opposed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In September 2013, he advocated attaching a measure defunding the Act to must-pass legislation funding the federal government.[16]

After the government subsequently shut down, Stutzman remarked that the issue at stake was no longer merely the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and Republicans would need some concession in order to reopen the government.[17]

Taxes

In 2010 Stutzman signed a pledge sponsored by Americans for Prosperity promising to vote against any Global Warming legislation that would raise taxes.[18]

Controversies

Ethics allegation

On June 6, 2010 a Facebook message from former Rep. Mark Souder 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.[19] 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 email, but he declined to comment beyond saying it was intended to be a private message.[20]

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 was, "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?”[20]

Political campaigns

2010 U.S. Senate campaign

Stutzman ran for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by incumbent Evan Bayh. He lost to former U.S. Senator Dan Coats in the primary.

2010 U.S. House campaign

Incumbent U.S. Representative Mark Souder (R-IN) resigned after admitting to an affair. 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.[21] 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).

2012 U.S. House campaign

Stutzman defeated his Democratic opponent Kevin Boyd by a 67%-33% margin.[22]

Electoral history

2010 Republican Senate Primary Results[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Coats 217,225 39.5
Republican Marlin Stutzman 160,981 29.2
Republican John Hostettler 124,494 22.6
Republican Don Bates, Jr. 24,664 4.5
Republican Richard Behney 23,005 4.2
Total votes 550,369 100
2010 House General Election Results[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Marlin Stutzman 116,030 63
Democratic Thomas Hayhurst 61,149 33
Libertarian Scott Wise 7,636 4
Total votes 184,815 100
2012 House General Election Results[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Marlin Stutzman (Incumbent) 187,872 67.04
Democratic Kevin Boyd 92,363 32.96
Total votes 280,235 100.00
Republican hold

Personal life

Stutzman and his wife, Christy, have two sons, Payton and Preston.

References

  1. ↑ http://elections.suntimes.com/dynamic/external/pre-election/bios/53887.html?SITE=ILCHSELN&SECTION=POLITICS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
  2. ↑ "Senate Republicans: About Sen. Marlin Stutzman". In.gov. 2009-06-16. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  3. ↑ Schneider, Mary Beth (5 May 2010). "Senate: Coats wins GOP nomination". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  4. ↑ Weinhold, Josh (14 June 2010). "Stutzman wins caucus to represent GOP in Indiana's 3rd District". eTruth.com. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  5. ↑ "Guide to the New Congress" (PDF). Congressional Quarterly. 2010-11-04. p. 41. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
  6. ↑ "Newsroom". In.gov. 2009-08-19. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  7. ↑ "Indiana Corn - Indiana Corn Farmers to Contribute to New Ethanol Incentive Program". Incorn.org. 2009-08-17. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  8. ↑ "Indiana House of Representatives Republican Caucus:". In.gov. 2002-09-18. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  9. ↑ "Indiana House of Representatives - Majority Caucus Newsletter". In.gov. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  10. ↑ "Indiana House of Representatives - Majority Caucus Newsletter". In.gov. 2007-01-26. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report (2008-01-22). "Indy Firm Named Chamber's Small Business of the Year - Newsroom - Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick". Insideindianabusiness.com. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ David M. Drucker (2013-10-03). "GOP stands firm against funding bill, will link to debt ceiling fight". Washington Examiner. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
  15. ↑ May 15th, 2008 at 10:48 pm by Jim (2008-05-15). "Blog Archive » Marlin Stutzman Declares for Senate District 13 Caucus to Replace Senator Meeks". HoosierAccess. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  16. ↑ 'This is the line in the sand,' House Republicans say, by Lisa Mascaro, LA Times, 18 September 2013
  17. ↑ Hayward, Steven F. (2013-10-03). "GOP stands firm against funding bill, will link to debt ceiling fight". WashingtonExaminer.com. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
  18. ↑ http://americansforprosperity.org/files/Stutzman_Marlin.pdf
  19. ↑ "The actual Souder Facebook message". Fort Wayne Politics. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Benjamin Lanka and Niki Kelly (2010-06-09). "GOP insiders shrug at Souder's missive | The Journal Gazette | Fort Wayne, IN". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  21. ↑ 12, 2010 "Stutzman Dominates Congressional Caucus". Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Election Results". Indiana Elections Division. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  23. ↑ "ElectionResults". Indiana Elections Division. May 24, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  24. ↑ "Indiana 3 District House Election Results". November 6, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2011.

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Mark Souder		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 3rd congressional district
November 16, 2010 – present 		Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Tom Reed		 United States Representatives by seniority
226th 		Succeeded by
Mike Fitzpatrick