Paul Stanley (born June 1, 1962, in Savannah, Tennessee) is an American politician and a Republican former member of the Tennessee Senate. He was elected as a state senator to the 105th Tennessee General Assembly, after having previously served in the Tennessee House of Representatives during the 102nd, 103rd, and 104th General Assemblies. Stanley represented the 31st district, which is part of Shelby County.
Early Life and Education
Stanley earned an Associate of Arts degree from Tyler Junior College. In 1985, he graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Political Career
During his time in office, Stanley served in leadership roles in many Republican organizations. In 1995, he was the Vice-Chair of Finance of the Shelby County Republican Party. From 1995 to 1997, he was the State Chairman of the Tennessee Young Republican Federation. From 1997 to 1999, he was the Vice-Chairman of the Young Republican National Federation. From 1998 until 2001, he was a member of the Republican State Executive Committee. Before becoming a state senator, Stanley was the Minority Floor Leader in the state House of Representatives. In 2006, he was elected to the State Senate, where he served as Chairman of the Commerce, Labor and Agriculture Committee.
Resignation
In 2009, Stanley resigned from his seat amidst allegations that he had an affair with a 22-year-old legislative intern. The intern's boyfriend allegedly attempted to extort $10,000 from Stanley in return for possible nude photos. Stanley reported the extortion attempt to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the boyfriend was charged with extortion. Stanley subsequently resigned from the Senate, effective August 10, 2009.
Post-Political Career
After leaving office, Stanley worked as a wealth advisor and public finance banker. He later became a principal in his own firm, assisting clients in industries such as commercial insurance, construction, digital media, and grassroots advocacy. He has also worked as a journalist and political section editor for The Christian Post, and founded the website One Southern Man.
