Stephen Stetler
Encyclopedia
Stephen Hays Stetler is a Democratic
politician from Pennsylvania
who served as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
from 2008 until his resignation on December 15, 2009 hours before he was indicted by Attorney General
Tom Corbett
with six criminal charges, including various charges of theft and conflict of interest.
, he attended St. James School
, a private Episcopal boarding school in Maryland
. He earned an undergraduate degree from Drew University
in 1971. In 1974, he earned a Master of Divinity
from Drew University
. In 1983, he earned a M.S.
in Administrative Science
from Johns Hopkins University
. He then studied canon law
at Ripon Hall
in Oxford, England and took a teaching position at the National Cathedral School
in Washington, D.C.
.
. He stayed at the Department for 12 years and was eventually promoted to Deputy Secretary of Taxation, a position giving him supervision of 1,800 employees. It was during this time that Stetler attended Johns Hopkins University
. He then returned to York, Pennsylvania
to become a partner
in D.E. Stetler and Son, his family's Dodge
auto dealership.
During the 1990 election, Stetler successfully ran to represent the York-centric 95th legislative district
in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
, which had been vacated by Michael E. Bortner, who was a candidate for the Pennsylvania State Senate
. In 2003, the political website PoliticsPA
named him as a possible successor to House Minority Leader Bill DeWeese. He was elected House Democratic Policy Committee Chairman in 2003, making him part of the caucus leadership. During that time, he was also chairman of the House Democratic Campaign Committee, a political position within the caucus that placed him in charge of the election efforts for many House Democratic candidates. As a member of the board of Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
, a governmental student financial aid organization, Stetler and his wife were criticized for "posh" accommodations and retreats that were paid for with PHEAA funds.
Stetler did not run for re-election during the 2006 general election
, at least partially because of voter backlash over his vote in favor of the 2005 General Assembly pay raise
. He resigned his seat in September in order to become executive director of the Pennsylvania Economy League.
, succeeding Thomas W. Wolf
. He was unanimously confirmed by the Pennsylvania State Senate
on March 31, 2009. He resigned that position on December 15, 2009, hours before being charged with one count of conflict of interest, four counts of theft, and one count of criminal conspiracy by Pennsylvania Attorney General
Tom Corbett
, who has been investigating the practices of the House Democratic Caucus as a part of the "Bonusgate
" investigations. According to state prosecutors, the Stetler had "required members of his staff to conduct campaign work on legislative time" while chair of the House Policy Committee. If convicted, Stetler could face up to 40 years in prison and $85,000 in fines.
Democratic 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...
politician from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
who served as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue is an agency of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The department is responsible for collecting all Pennsylvania taxes, including all corporate taxes and taxes on inheritance, personal income, sales and use, realty transfer, motor fuel, and all other state taxes...
from 2008 until his resignation on December 15, 2009 hours before he was indicted by Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
Tom Corbett
Tom Corbett
Thomas W. Corbett is the 46th and current Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. He is a former Attorney General of Pennsylvania and was elected to that office in 2004 and reelected in 2008...
with six criminal charges, including various charges of theft and conflict of interest.
Education and teaching career
A native of York, PennsylvaniaYork, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
, he attended St. James School
St. James School, Maryland
Saint James School is an independent, secondary, boarding and day school. Founded in 1842 as the College of Saint James, The school is a coeducational college preparatory school.-Mission statement:...
, a private Episcopal boarding school in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. He earned an undergraduate degree from Drew University
Drew University
Drew University is a private university located in Madison, New Jersey.Originally established as the Drew Theological Seminary in 1867, the university later expanded to include an undergraduate liberal arts college in 1928 and commenced a program of graduate studies in 1955...
in 1971. In 1974, he earned a Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
from Drew University
Drew University
Drew University is a private university located in Madison, New Jersey.Originally established as the Drew Theological Seminary in 1867, the university later expanded to include an undergraduate liberal arts college in 1928 and commenced a program of graduate studies in 1955...
. In 1983, he earned a M.S.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Administrative Science
Administrative Science
Administrative Science may refer to:* the study of management* Administrative Science Quarterly, a journal* Journal of Administrative Sciences...
from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. He then studied canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
at Ripon Hall
Ripon College Cuddesdon
Ripon College Cuddesdon is a Church of England theological college in Cuddesdon, a village outside Oxford, England.-History:Ripon College Cuddesdon was formed from an amalgamation in 1975 of Cuddesdon College and Ripon Hall...
in Oxford, England and took a teaching position at the National Cathedral School
National Cathedral School
National Cathedral School is an independent Episcopal private day school for girls located on the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
Business and legislative career
Stetler left teaching in 1977 and moved to Harrisburg to began working for the Pennsylvania Department of RevenuePennsylvania Department of Revenue
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue is an agency of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The department is responsible for collecting all Pennsylvania taxes, including all corporate taxes and taxes on inheritance, personal income, sales and use, realty transfer, motor fuel, and all other state taxes...
. He stayed at the Department for 12 years and was eventually promoted to Deputy Secretary of Taxation, a position giving him supervision of 1,800 employees. It was during this time that Stetler attended Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. He then returned to York, Pennsylvania
York, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
to become a partner
Business partner
Business partner is a term used to denote a commercial entity with which another commercial entity has some form of alliance. This relationship may be a highly contractual, exclusive bond in which both entities commit not to ally with third parties...
in D.E. Stetler and Son, his family's Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
auto dealership.
During the 1990 election, Stetler successfully ran to represent the York-centric 95th legislative district
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 95
The 95th Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is located in York County and includes the following areas:* North York* Spring Garden Township* West Manchester Township * West York* York-Representatives:...
in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
, which had been vacated by Michael E. Bortner, who was a candidate for the Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
. In 2003, the political website PoliticsPA
PoliticsPA
- Content :The website focuses on news aggregation, linking to major political news making headlines across the state. The editors write occasional features, like the weekly "Up & Down" scorecard and one-off lists like "Harrisburg's Smartest Staffer" and "Best Dressed Lobbyist" lists...
named him as a possible successor to House Minority Leader Bill DeWeese. He was elected House Democratic Policy Committee Chairman in 2003, making him part of the caucus leadership. During that time, he was also chairman of the House Democratic Campaign Committee, a political position within the caucus that placed him in charge of the election efforts for many House Democratic candidates. As a member of the board of Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
Created in 1963 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency has evolved into one of the nation's leading student aid organizations...
, a governmental student financial aid organization, Stetler and his wife were criticized for "posh" accommodations and retreats that were paid for with PHEAA funds.
Stetler did not run for re-election during the 2006 general election
Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2006
The 2006 Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 7, 2006, with all districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on May 16, 2006. Members elected in 2006 were inaugurated on January 2, 2007...
, at least partially because of voter backlash over his vote in favor of the 2005 General Assembly pay raise
2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy
In the early morning hours of July 7, 2005, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed pay increases for state lawmakers, judges, and top executive-branch officials. The vote took place at 2 a.m. without public review or commentary and Governor Ed Rendell signed the bill into law...
. He resigned his seat in September in order to become executive director of the Pennsylvania Economy League.
Tenure as Secretary of Revenue
In November 2008, he was named Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of RevenuePennsylvania Department of Revenue
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue is an agency of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The department is responsible for collecting all Pennsylvania taxes, including all corporate taxes and taxes on inheritance, personal income, sales and use, realty transfer, motor fuel, and all other state taxes...
, succeeding Thomas W. Wolf
Thomas W. Wolf
Thomas W. Wolf is a former Secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. He resigned in 2008.-References:...
. He was unanimously confirmed by the Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
on March 31, 2009. He resigned that position on December 15, 2009, hours before being charged with one count of conflict of interest, four counts of theft, and one count of criminal conspiracy by Pennsylvania Attorney General
Pennsylvania Attorney General
The Pennsylvania Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It became an elected office in 1980. Currently, the office is held by Linda Kelly.- Authority and Responsibilities :...
Tom Corbett
Tom Corbett
Thomas W. Corbett is the 46th and current Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. He is a former Attorney General of Pennsylvania and was elected to that office in 2004 and reelected in 2008...
, who has been investigating the practices of the House Democratic Caucus as a part of the "Bonusgate
2006 Pennsylvania General Assembly bonus controversy
In 2007, Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett began investigating $3.8 million in bonuses paid to legislative staffers in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. While the bonuses themselves are not illegal under state law, the Attorney General is investigating the possibility that the bonuses...
" investigations. According to state prosecutors, the Stetler had "required members of his staff to conduct campaign work on legislative time" while chair of the House Policy Committee. If convicted, Stetler could face up to 40 years in prison and $85,000 in fines.
External links
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
- Pennsylvania House of Representatives - Stephen H. Stetler (Democrat) official PA House profile (archived)
- Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus - Representative Stephen Stetler official Party website (archived)