Marlin Stutzman

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 4000 acre 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

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 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 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?”

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 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).

2012 U.S. House campaign
Stutzman defeated his Democratic opponent Kevin Boyd by a 67%-33% margin.

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

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