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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 (1976-08-31) August 31, 1976 (age 48) Sturgis, Michigan
Political party	Republican
Spouse	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
Website	Campaign website

Marlin Andrew Stutzman (born August 31, 1976) 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.

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.

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.

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 km) 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 in a bid to replace retiring incumbent Evan Bayh.

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

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

• Committee on Agriculture
  • Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry
  • Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture
• Committee on the Budget
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity (Chairman)

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 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 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.”

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.

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 givernment.

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. 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.

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?”

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. 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.

Electoral history

Personal life

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

References

1. Chicago Sun-Times http://elections.suntimes.com/dynamic/external/pre-election/bios/53887.html?SITE=ILCHSELN&SECTION=POLITICS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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.
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. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
13. http://finplaneducation.net/rating_stutzman_marlin.htm
14. Template:Cite article
15. Posted on 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
16. 'This is the line in the sand,' House Republicans say, by Lisa Mascaro, LA Times, 18 September 2013
17. "The actual Souder Facebook message". Fort Wayne Politics. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
18. ^ 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.
19. 12, 2010 "Stutzman Dominates Congressional Caucus". Retrieved March 1, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
20. ^ "Election Results". Indiana Elections Division. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
21. "ElectionResults". Indiana Elections Division. May 24, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
22. "Indiana 3 District House Election Results". November 6, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2011.

External links

• Congressman Marlin Stutzman official U.S. House website
• Marlin Stutzman for Congress
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Salary data as Congressional staffer at Legistorm.com

Template:Persondata

• 1976 births
• Indiana State Senators
• Living people
• Members of the Indiana House of Representatives
• Members of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana