Nate Bell

Nate Bell
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 20th district
In office
January 2013 – January 2017
Succeeded byJohn Maddox
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 22nd district
In office
January 2011 – January 2013
Preceded byBill Abernathy
Succeeded byBruce Westerman
Personal details
Born (1969-07-17) July 17, 1969 (age 55)
Mena, Arkansas
Political partyIndependent (2015–present)
Republican (until 2015)
Residence(s)Lincoln, Arkansas
OccupationReal 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 2013 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]

Date Bill number Bill name Vote
March 20, 2013 HB 1855 Classifies the Office of Prosecuting Attorney as Nonpartisan Yea
March 19, 2013 HB 1819 Prohibits Governor from Regulating Firearms in an Emergency Yea
March 19, 2013 SB 417 Penalties for Violent Offenses Against Fetuses Yea
March 13, 2013 SB 2 Requires Photo ID to Vote Yea
March 12, 2013 HB 1357 Requires Municipal Special Elections to Be On Certain DaysFee Yea
March 6, 2013 SB 134 Prohibits Abortion if Fetal Heartbeat Detected Yea
March 5, 2013 HB 1041 Establishes a Spending Cap on the State Budget Yea
Feb. 27, 2013 HB 1037 Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks Yea
Feb. 21, 2013 SB 134 Prohibits Abortion if Fetal Heartbeat Detected Yea
Feb. 21, 2013 HB 1037 Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks Yea
Feb. 18, 2013 HB 1295 Establishes Tiered System for Lottery Scholarships Yea
Feb. 15, 2013 HB 1243 Authorizes University Staff to Carry a Concealed Handgun Yea
Feb. 4, 2013 HB 1037 Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks Yea
Feb. 4, 2013 HB 1100 Prohibits Abortion Coverage on the State Health Insurance Exchange Yea
April 12, 2011 SB 972 Congressional Redistricting Yea
March 25, 2011 HB 1958 Authorizes Concealed Handguns In Places of Worship Yea
March 25, 2011 HB 1032 Curriculum Standards for Bible Instruction in School Districts Yea
March 23, 2011 HB 2007 Requires Driver's License Exams to be in English Only Yea
March 21, 2011 HB 1797 Requires Proof of Identity to Vote Yea
Feb. 16, 2011 HB 1052 Reducing Taxes on Manufacturer Utilities Yea
Feb. 16, 2011 HB 1002 Capital Gains Reduction Act Yea
Jan. 20, 2011 HB 1115 Absentee Mayor Yea
March 29, 2011 HB 1226 2011-2012 State Insurance Department Budget Nay
March 17, 2011 HB 1936 Dress Codes for Public Schools Nay
Feb. 15, 2011 SB 154 Cell Phones in School Zones Nay
Feb. 7, 2011 HB 1013 Hiring of Unauthorized Workers Bill Passed Nay
Feb. 1, 2011 HB 1049 Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones Bill Passed Nay
Jan. 31, 2011 HB 1049 Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones Nay
March 31, 2011 HB 1226 2011-2012 State Insurance Department Budget Abstained

Controversies

Bell is nationally known for his polarizing and controversial commentary on social issues, including:

The Hitler incident

Bell received criticism for "misquoting" 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

See also: Abortion in the United States and Abortion debate

Bell exchanged e-mails with an Arkansas resident living outside his district, regarding his stance on abortion.[7][8]

Boston Marathon bombing comments

Main article: Boston Marathon bombing

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]

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 of America, 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.[13]

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 eligibility in the state legislature should he decide to serve again.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Nate Bell's Biography". votesmart.org. Retrieved January 10, 2014.[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ "State Representative District 022 - Certified, 2010". sos.arkansas.gov. Archived from the original on August 20, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  3. ^ "House District 20, 2012 election returns". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  4. ^ Benjamin Hardy (March 5, 2015). "Rep. Nate Bell blasts adoption story before seeing it; 'rehoming' bill introduced". The Arkansas Times. Archived from the original on March 5, 2015.
  5. ^ "Representative Jerry 'Nate' Nathan Bell's Voting Records".
  6. ^ Brantley, Max. "Republican State Rep. Nate Bell quotes Hitler". ArkTimes. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013.
  7. ^ Mehta, Hemant. "Arkansas State Representative Tells Pro-Choice Mother She's a Murderer". Patheos. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013.
  8. ^ Bell's voting history in regards to Abortion Laws
  9. ^ "Arkansas State Rep Sends Tactless Boston Tweet". Huffington Post. April 19, 2013.
  10. ^ Miller, Lisa (April 19, 2013). "Nate Bell, Arkansas State Lawmaker, Sends Insensitive Tweet About 'Boston Liberals'". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
  11. ^ Carioli, Carly (April 19, 2013). "How many Bostonians are telling Arkansas state senator Nate Bell he's an idiot?". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on April 20, 2013.
  12. ^ Andrew DeMillo (April 19, 2013). "State Rep. Nate Bell Criticized for 'Boston Liberals' Tweet". Arkansas Business News. Archived from the original on December 6, 2013.
  13. ^ "Nate Bell, R-20". Archived from the original on 2013-04-29. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
  14. ^ "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)
2011–2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Johnnie Roebuck
 Arkansas State Representative for District 20 (Polk and Montgomery counties)
2013–2017 		Succeeded by