Nate Bell
| Nate Bell | |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | John Maddox |
| Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 22nd district | |
|
In office January 2011 – January 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Abernathy |
| Succeeded by | Bruce Westerman |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 17, 1969 Mena, Arkansas |
| Political party |
Independent (2015-present) Republican (until 2015) |
| Residence | Mena, Arkansas |
| Occupation | Real estate developer |
Jerry Nathan Bell, known as Nate Bell (born July 17, 1969), is an Independent politician from Mena in the U.S. state of Arkansas, who served three two-year terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives. From 2003 to 2017, he represented District 20, which encompasses Polk and Montgomery counties. From 2011 to 2013, he was the representative for District 22. He was a Republican prior to 2015.
Business career
Bell is founder and managing partner of Quad B Specialties, LLC, a licensed commercial and residential construction firm.[1]
Early political career
Bell was elected constable of Potter Township in Polk County in 2004, 2006, and 2008.[1]
General Assembly
In 2010, Bell defeated the Democrat Orvin Foster, 5,022 (60 percent) to 3,355 (40 percent) to win the District 22 seat vacated by the Democrat Bill Abernathy.[2]
In 2012, Bell was switched to District 20, in which he defeated another Democrat, Lewis Diggs, 6,696 to 3,592. This seat was vacated by the Democrat, the term-limited Johnnie Roebuck.[3]
In the 89th General Assembly, Bell served on the House Revenue and Taxation Committee and the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee.[1]
In March 2015, Bell provided forceful support for fellow legislator Justin Harris during his rehoming (aka child abandonment) scandal.[4]
Voting history
Bell's voting includes:[5]
In 2013, Bell voted 'Yea' on the following bills:
- * March 20, 2013 HB 1855 Classifies the Office of Prosecuting Attorney as Nonpartisan
- * March 19, 2013 HB 1819 Prohibits Governor from Regulating Firearms in an Emergency
- * March 19, 2013 SB 417 Penalties for Violent Offenses Against Fetuses
- * March 13, 2013 SB 2 Requires Photo ID to Vote
- * March 12, 2013 HB 1357 Requires Municipal Special Elections to Be On Certain DaysFee
- * March 6, 2013 SB 134 Prohibits Abortion if Fetal Heartbeat Detected
- * March 5, 2013 HB 1041 Establishes a Spending Cap on the State Budget
- * Feb. 27, 2013 HB 1037 Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks
- * Feb. 21, 2013 SB 134 Prohibits Abortion if Fetal Heartbeat Detected
- * Feb. 21, 2013 HB 1037 Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks
- * Feb. 18, 2013 HB 1295 Establishes Tiered System for Lottery Scholarships
- * Feb. 15, 2013 HB 1243 Authorizes University Staff to Carry a Concealed Handgun
- * Feb. 4, 2013 HB 1037 Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks
- * Feb. 4, 2013 HB 1100 Prohibits Abortion Coverage on the State Health Insurance Exchange
In 2011, Bell voted 'Yea' on the following bills:
- * April 12, 2011 SB 972 Congressional Redistricting
- * March 25, 2011 HB 1958 Authorizes Concealed Handguns In Places of Worship
- * March 25, 2011 HB 1032 Curriculum Standards for Bible Instruction in School Districts
- * March 23, 2011 HB 2007 Requires Driver's License Exams to be in English Only
- * March 21, 2011 HB 1797 Requires Proof of Identity to Vote
- * Feb. 16, 2011 HB 1052 Reducing Taxes on Manufacturer Utilities
- * Feb. 16, 2011 HB 1002 Capital Gains Reduction Act
- * Jan. 20, 2011 HB 1115 Absentee Mayor
In 2011 Bell voted 'Nay' on the following bills:
- * March 29, 2011 HB 1226 2011-2012 State Insurance Department Budget
- * March 17, 2011 HB 1936 Dress Codes for Public Schools
- * Feb. 15, 2011 SB 154 Cell Phones in School Zones
- * Feb. 7, 2011 HB 1013 Hiring of Unauthorized Workers Bill Passed
- * Feb. 1, 2011 HB 1049 Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones Bill Passed
- * Jan. 31, 2011 HB 1049 Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones
In 2011, Bell abstained from voting on the following bill:
- March 31, 2011 HB 1226 2011-2012 State Insurance Department Budget
Controversies
Bell is nationally known for his polarizing and controversial commentary on social issues, including:
The Hitler incident
Bell received criticism for "miquoting" Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf. The quote was considered incorrect by those opposing Bell's political positions, nonetheless Bell stood by the quote.[6]
The Abortion incident
Bell exchanged e-mails with an Arkansas resident living outside his district, regarding his stance on abortion.[7][8]
Boston marathon bombing comments
In response to news reports of a lockdown in the Boston metropolitan area, on April 19, 2013, Bell tweeted, "I wonder how many Boston liberals spent the night cowering in their homes wishing they had an AR-15 with a hi-capacity magazine?".[9][10]
Bell's remarks outraged many in Massachusetts, Arkansas, and throughout the country.[11] The Republican then Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives, Davy Carter, called the remark "inappropriate and insensitive." Then Democratic minority leader Greg Leding of Fayetteville, said, "The people of Boston are not cowards. They are patriots. ... No one, including Representative Bell, should ever infer that the American people are anything other than courageous, and the only words we should be offering to the people of Boston are those of support and of prayer."[12]
King-Lee Day
In the 2015 legislative session, Bell joined with the African-American Democrat Charles Blake of Little Rock in an unsuccessful effort to sever Martin Luther King Day and the Robert E. Lee holiday, which are both observed in Arkansas on the third Monday of January. Bell proposed that Lee's holiday be transferred to November 30, a "Southern Heritage Day" to correspond with the birthday of a Confederate States Army general from eastern Arkansas, Patrick Cleburne, who was killed in the American Civil War in Franklin, Tennessee. Only two citizens spoke in a public hearing on the Blake-Bell measure; twenty-four signed to speak in opposition. Alabama and Mississippi also observe a combined King-Lee Day. Representative Trevor Drown of Dover said that Arkansas should remain unique on the issue and not copy the majority of states because "it's our heritage."[13]
Personal life
Bell is involved in many community and civic organizations, including Rotary International, 4-H Clubs (volunteer leader), Poultry Partners, the National Rifle Association, and the Polk County Farm Bureau. He is also a member of LeadAR, the Western Arkansas Fire Rescue Association, and the Potter Volunteer Fire Department. Bell attends the non-denominational Grace Bible Church. Bell and his wife, Phyllis, have two daughters, Victoria and Hannah.[14]
Bell did not seek a fourth term in the state House in 2016. A Republican, John Maddox instead won the position. Bell still has ten years of elgibilty in the state legislature should he decide to serve again.[15]
References
- 1 2 3 "Nate Bell's Biography". votesmart.org. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
- ↑ "State Representative District 022 - Certified, 2010". sos.arkansas.gov. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
- ↑ "House District 20, 2012 election returns". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
- ↑ Benjamin Hardy, "Rep Nate Bell Blasts Adoption Story Before Seeing It", The Arkansas Times,
- ↑ "Representative Jerry 'Nate' Nathan Bell's Voting Records".
- ↑ Brantley, Max. "Republican State Rep. Nate Bell quotes Hitler". ArkTimes.
- ↑ Mehta, Hemant. "Arkansas State Representative Tells Pro-Choice Mother She's a Murderer". Patheos.
- ↑ Bell's voting history in regards to Abortion Laws
- ↑ "Arkansas State Rep Sends Tactless Boston Tweet". Huffington Post. April 19, 2013.
- ↑ Miller, Lisa (April 19, 2013). "Nate Bell, Arkansas State Lawmaker, Sends Insensitive Tweet About 'Boston Liberals'". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
- ↑ Carioli, Carly (April 19, 2013). The Boston Globe http://www.boston.com/ae/radio/blog/2013/04/why_are_so_many_bostonians_telling_arkansas_state_senator_nate_bell_hes_an_idiot.html. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/92086/us-rep-nate-bell-criticized-for-boston-manhunt-tweet
- ↑ Elahe Izadi (January 29, 2015). "Why Arkansas still won't stop celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert E. Lee on the same day". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- ↑ http://www.arkansashouse.org/member/256/
- ↑ "Rep. Nate Bell Won't Seek Re-election In 2016". Fort Smith/Fayetteville News | 5newsonline KFSM 5NEWS. 2015-04-13. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
| Preceded by Bill Abernathy |
Arkansas State Representative for District 22 (formerly Polk County; now Garland County)
Jerry Nathan "Nate" Bell |
Succeeded by Bruce Westerman |
| Preceded by Johnnie Roebuck |
Arkansas State Representative for District 20 (Polk and Montgomery counties)
Jerry Nathan "Nate" Bell |
Succeeded by John Maddox |