In 1982, Stephens, then of Caseyville, ran against Democratic incumbent Michael Slape of Pocahontas for the Illinois House of Representatives in the 110th district. In a 1984 rematch, Stephens defeated Slape and defended his seat from Slape in a 1986 rematch. In 1988, Stephens defeated Democratic candidate Jay Hoffman by approximately 1,500 votes before losing to him in a 1990 rematch. After the loss to Hoffman, Governor Jim Edgar named Stephens the Head of the Illinois Emergency Services and Disaster Agency where he served until he chose to once again run for the Illinois House of Representatives after the 1991 decennial redistricting. He defeated Robert Daiber, a farmer from Marine, in the newly drawn 110th district by 259 votes.