Ken Stolle for VB Sheriff

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - From stolleforsheriff.com :

As one of six children in a Navy family, Senator Ken Stolle grew up in and out of the Hampton Roads area. In 1971 the Stolle family permanently settled in Virginia Beach, where Ken graduated from Cox High School.

Ken currently serves in the Virginia General Assembly as the Republican Leader Pro Tempore and represents the 8th Senatorial District, located in the eastern half of Virginia Beach.

Prior to being elected to the Senate in 1991, Ken was a partner with the Virginia Beach law firm of Bennett & Stolle, P.C. He was a Sergeant on the Virginia Beach Police Department, where he served from 1976 until 1987. He also served as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Naval Reserve.

Ken is a leading advocate for public safety at the state and local levels. As the only current member of the Senate who was a police officer, Ken knows first-hand the needs of first responders and other public safety officials. He has championed stricter penalties for gang activity, the abolition of parole and enhanced penalties for DUI offenders.

As chairman of the Crime Commission, Ken sponsored new legislation to strengthen Virginia’s laws that crack down on sex offenders. These initiatives have improved Virginia’s Sex Offender Registry and begun GPS tracking of known sex offenders, allowing police to monitor their whereabouts 24 hours a day.

More recently, Ken led the charge for increased retirement benefits for state and local police officers, deputy sheriffs and fire fighters. He is committed to ensure that these individuals who risk their lives everyday for the safety of others are afforded better pay and enhanced benefits. Furthermore, Ken has supported improvements to the Line of Duty Act in order to make certain the children and spouses of fallen or disabled public safety officers are appropriately cared for.

For his long-term commitment to law enforcement, Ken was recognized by the Sheriffs’ Association, Fraternal Order of Police, Chiefs of Police and State Police Association with their highest awards. This is the first time in known record that a legislator has been honored by these major law enforcement organizations in the same year.

Over the course of his tenure in the General Assembly, Ken has carried several pieces of landmark legislation helping small businesses while protecting the consumer. In fact, he is consistently rated by Virginia FREE as one of the top 5 most effective legislators in Virginia. He also helped eliminate the estate tax, cut the grocery tax, and initiate both the back-to-school and hurricane preparedness sales tax holidays.

Ken works hard to ensure that the General Assembly honors its commitment to our children by fully-funding K-12 education and by supporting teachers through long-overdue pay raises and additional classroom resources. He has been honored not only by the Virginia Beach Education Association with its “Friend of Education” award but also the Virginia School Board Association with its “Legislative Award of Excellence.”

Away from the General Assembly, Ken enjoys hunting and proudly serves on the Hunters for the Hungry Advisory Committee, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality high protein, low-fat venison to food banks and other 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations feeding Virginia's needy.

He and his wife Debbie have three children: Whitney, Kenny and Ross. Ken is currently of counsel with the law firm of Kaufman & Canoles, P.C. in their Virginia Beach office.

Biography

* Ken Stolle was born into a large Navy family of six children; five boys and one girl.
* In 1972, Ken graduated from Virginia Beach's Cox High School.
* In 1975, he earned an Interdisciplinary B.S. degree in Criminal Justice from Berry College in Rome, Georgia.
* After earning his degree, Ken joined the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) and served from 1976 to 1987.
* As a member of the VBPD, Senator Stolle served as a Patrolman, Narcotics Detective, SWAT Team Leader, and Tactical Team Sergeant.
* On the VBPD he was awarded the Silver Star for Bravery, Medal of Merit and the Silver Cross for Bravery.
* In 1983, Ken was commissioned in the U.S. Naval Reserve serving in Naval Intelligence to help in President Ronald Reagan’s Drug Interdiction efforts. As a Lieutenant in the USNR Ken was assigned to the Naval Investigative Service to assist with foreign counter-intelligence, where he was designated as a Special Agent.
* In 1983, he passed the Virginia State Bar and became a licensed attorney.
* He left the police department in 1987 to practice law full time.
* In 1989, he was elected the Chairman of the Virginia Beach Republican Party.
* In 1991, Ken was elected to his first term in the state senate.
* At present, he is serving his fifth term in the General Assembly and is the Republican Leader Pro Tempore.
* Senator Stolle serves on the following committees: Courts of Justice Committee, Finance Committee, Commerce and Labor Committee, Privileges and Elections Committee, Rules Committee, and Joint Rules.
* When Ken is not representing the citizens of the 8th District in the General Assembly, he is practicing law as a partner in the law firm Kaufman and Canoles.
* In Ken's spare time, he enjoys hunting and spending time with his family. He and his wife Debbie have three children: Whitney, Kenny, and Ross.

Honors & Awards

2009

* Virginia Sheriffs' Association – "Outstanding Legislator of the Year"
* Virginia Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators – "Outstanding Legislator of the Year"
* Virginia State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police - "Senator of the Year"
* Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police - "Outstanding Legislator of the Year"

2007

* Virginia State Police Association – “Senator of the Year”
* Virginia Bar Association - "Distinguished Service Award"

2006

* Virginia State Police Association - "Senator of the Year"
* Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police - "Outstanding Legislator of the Year"
* Virginia State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police - "Senator of the Year"
* Virginia Sheriffs' Association - "Outstanding Legislator of the Year"

2005

* Virginia Beach Career and Technical Education - "Legislator of the Year"

2004

* Virginia Beach Education Association - "Friend of Education Award"
* Virginia Independent Auto Dealers' Association - "Free Enterprise Award"
* Virginia Thoroughbred Association - "Award of Merit"
* Virginia State Crime Clinic - "For Dedication to Public Safety"
* Virginia School Board Association - "Legislative Award of Excellence"

2003

* Retail Merchants Association of Virginia - "Legislator of the Year"

2002

* Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association - "Legislator of the Year"

2001

* Virginia Public Safety Foundation - "Distinguished Public Safety Award"
* Virginia State Police Association - "Richard J. Holland Distinguished Service Award"

1999

* Virginia Sheriffs' Association - "Outstanding Legislator of the Year"

1996

* Virginia State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police - "Senator of the Year"

1992

* Virginia State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police - "Senator of the Year"