Career
A Republican, he was elected in 2011 to the Senate of Virginia for the 20th district. The 20th district includes the cities of Galax and Martinsville, Henry and Patrick counties, part of the city of Danville, and parts of five other Southside Virginia counties. Stanley was born in Milton, Florida, the son of a United States Navy aviator.
The family purchased a home Franklin County, Virginia after his father retired in 1983.
Stanley received a Bachelor of Surgery degree from Hampden-Sydney College, and a Juris Doctor from the District of Columbia School of Law. He joined the Northern Virginia law firm of Gilbert Davis, where he was involved in Paula Jones" sexual harassment lawsuit against President Bill Clinton.
In 1999 he moved back to Franklin County and began to practice law there. Stanley was elected Franklin County Republican Committee chair in 2008, and Virginia"s 5th Congressional District Republican Committee chair in 2010.
In 2011, he defeated incumbent Democratic 20th district Senator Roscoe Reynolds, 23975 (468%)-23331 (4554%).
West. Jeff Evans, the 2007 Republican candidate, ran as an independent, finishing third with 7.58% of the vote.