Jim Stamas (born February 17, 1965) was a member of the Michigan State Senate and former Majority Floor Leader of the Michigan House of Representatives. He was inaugurated in the Michigan Senate on January 1, 2015 and left office on January 1, 2022. A Republican, he represented District 36 in the Senate and before that represented District 98 in the House, and is from Midland.

Jim Stamas
Member of the Michigan Senate
from the 36th district
In office
January 1, 2015 – January 1, 2022
Preceded byJohn Moolenaar
Succeeded byMichele Hoitenga
Majority Floor Leader of the Michigan House of Representatives
In office
January 1, 2011 – January 1, 2015
Preceded byKathy Angerer
Succeeded byAric Nesbitt
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 98th district
In office
January 1, 2009 – January 1, 2015
Preceded byJohn Moolenaar
Succeeded byGary Glenn
Personal details
Born (1965-02-17) February 17, 1965 (age 59)
Midland, Michigan
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMarsha Stamas
Children2
ResidenceMidland, Michigan
Alma materNorthwood University
Delta College
WebsiteOfficial website
Military service
AllegianceUnited States of America
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Michigan National Guard
Unit3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) (Army)
460th Service and Support Company (Guard)

Political career

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State Representative Jim Stamas was elected to his second term in the Michigan House of Representatives in November 2010, representing portions of Midland and Saginaw counties. Stamas is a former two-term Midland County commissioner. He was a Midland Township trustee from 1997 to 2004. He served on the boards of the Midland Downtown Development Authority, Midland Downtown Business Association, and Midland County Planning Commission.

On June 14, 2012, Stamas moved with the House Representative leadership to bar two fellow Representatives from speaking on the floor. One, Representative Lisa Brown (D - West Bloomfield) was denied speaking time after, during a debate regarding a restrictive anti-abortion bill, she made the remarks, "...Mr Speaker, I'm flattered that you're all so interested in my vagina, but 'no' means 'no'." According to Ari Adler, spokesman for the Republican Majority, "Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas determined Brown's comments violated the decorum of the House." Michigan State Representative Barb Byrum (D - Onondaga) was also barred June 14 from introducing an amendment to the same proposed anti-abortion bill that would ban men from receiving vasectomy procedures unless sterilization were necessary to save a man's life.[1]

Personal life

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Stamas is the owner and former general manager of Pizza Sam's, the eatery in Midland the Stamas family has owned for nearly 50 years. Prior to running the family business, Stamas was self-employed as a realtor and was project manager at Case Systems.

Stamas holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Northwood University and an associate degree in business management from Delta College. Stamas served in both the U.S. Army and the Michigan National Guard. Jim and wife, Marsha, have been married for more than 35 years, and have a daughter and a son.

His brother, Tony Stamas, served in the state House and Senate.

References

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  1. ^ Peralta, Eyder (14 June 2012). "Michigan State Rep Barred from Speaking After 'Vagina' Comments". NPR.
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