Ken Stolle
Encyclopedia
Kenneth W. Stolle is an American politician of the Republican Party
. He was a member of the Senate of Virginia
from 1992 to 2010. He represented the 8th district in Virginia Beach
. Stolle is currently the sheriff of Virginia Beach.
. Stolle graduated from Frank W. Cox High School
in Virginia Beach in 1972. He then attended Berry College
, getting an Interdisciplinary B.S.
degree in Criminal Justice in 1975.
Stolle was a Virginia Beach police officer 1976–87. Among other duties, he was a narcotics detective and SWAT
team leader. He read law while on the police force and was admitted to the Virginia State Bar in 1983. The same year, he was commissioned in the United States Naval Reserve. He served eight years in Naval Intelligence on drug interdiction matters.
Stolle left police work to become a full-time attorney in 1987. He with the Kaufman and Canoles law firm in Virginia Beach.
incumbent Moody E. 'Sonny' Stallings, a Virginia Beach lawyer. He was unopposed for reelection in 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007.
In 1997, Stolle ran for Attorney General of Virginia
but finished third in a four-way Republican primary with 20.8% of the vote, behind state senator Mark Earley
, who went on to win the general election that year, and Secretary of Public Safety Jerry Kilgore, who was elected to the office four years later in 2001.
Stolle was chair of the Senate Courts of Justice committee 2000–07.
In 2007 Stolle's younger brother, Chris Stolle, ran for the 83rd district Virginia House of Delegates
seat of retiring Republican Leo Wardrup. He was defeated by Democrat Joe Bouchard
, 50.6% to 49.2%.
On April 3, 2009, Stolle announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for sheriff of Virginia Beach, after incumbent Paul Lanteigne announced his retirement. Stolle also made public the fact that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease
about three years earlier. Stolle later won and is currently holding the office.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. He was a member of the Senate of Virginia
Senate of Virginia
The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 Senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia...
from 1992 to 2010. He represented the 8th district in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
. Stolle is currently the sheriff of Virginia Beach.
Personal life; non-political career
Stolle's father was in the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. Stolle graduated from Frank W. Cox High School
Frank W. Cox High School
Frank W. Cox High School is a secondary school located in the Great Neck subdivision of Virginia Beach, Virginia. It was founded in 1961 as the Northeast Junior High School, but upon opening, it was named after a former superintendent of Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Frank Woodard Cox, who...
in Virginia Beach in 1972. He then attended Berry College
Berry College
Berry College is an American accredited, private, four-year liberal arts college located in Mount Berry, unincorporated Floyd County, Georgia, north of Rome. It was founded in 1902 by Martha Berry.-Location:Berry College is located on U.S...
, getting an Interdisciplinary B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Criminal Justice in 1975.
Stolle was a Virginia Beach police officer 1976–87. Among other duties, he was a narcotics detective and SWAT
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
team leader. He read law while on the police force and was admitted to the Virginia State Bar in 1983. The same year, he was commissioned in the United States Naval Reserve. He served eight years in Naval Intelligence on drug interdiction matters.
Stolle left police work to become a full-time attorney in 1987. He with the Kaufman and Canoles law firm in Virginia Beach.
Political career
Stolle became chair of the local Republican committee in Virginia Beach in 1989. In 1991, he was elected to the state senate, defeating DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
incumbent Moody E. 'Sonny' Stallings, a Virginia Beach lawyer. He was unopposed for reelection in 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007.
In 1997, Stolle ran for Attorney General of Virginia
Attorney General of Virginia
The Attorney General of Virginia is an executive office in the Government of Virginia. Attorneys General are elected for a four-year term in the year following a presidential election . There are no term limits restricting the number of terms someone can serve as Attorney General...
but finished third in a four-way Republican primary with 20.8% of the vote, behind state senator Mark Earley
Mark Earley
Mark Lawrence Earley is an American politician. As a member of the Republican Party, he was elected to the Virginia State Senate and then as Attorney General of Virginia from 1998 to 2001. In 2001, he resigned as Attorney General to focus his time on the 2001 campaign for Governor of Virginia...
, who went on to win the general election that year, and Secretary of Public Safety Jerry Kilgore, who was elected to the office four years later in 2001.
Stolle was chair of the Senate Courts of Justice committee 2000–07.
In 2007 Stolle's younger brother, Chris Stolle, ran for the 83rd district Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
seat of retiring Republican Leo Wardrup. He was defeated by Democrat Joe Bouchard
Joseph Bouchard
Joseph F. Bouchard is an American politician of the Democratic Party. From 2008 to 2010 he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. He represented the 83rd district in Virginia Beach. He was defeated for reelection on November 3, 2009 by a 59% to 41% landslide.-Biography:Dr...
, 50.6% to 49.2%.
On April 3, 2009, Stolle announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for sheriff of Virginia Beach, after incumbent Paul Lanteigne announced his retirement. Stolle also made public the fact that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
about three years earlier. Stolle later won and is currently holding the office.