Nate Bell

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.

Nate Bell
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 20th district
In office January 2013 – January 2017
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

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

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 eligibility in the state legislature should he decide to serve again.[15]

References

1. "Nate Bell's Biography". votesmart.org. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
2. "State Representative District 022 - Certified, 2010". sos.arkansas.gov. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
3. "House District 20, 2012 election returns". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
4. Benjamin Hardy, "Rep Nate Bell Blasts Adoption Story Before Seeing It", The Arkansas Times,
5. "Representative Jerry 'Nate' Nathan Bell's Voting Records".
6. Brantley, Max. "Republican State Rep. Nate Bell quotes Hitler". ArkTimes.
7. Mehta, Hemant. "Arkansas State Representative Tells Pro-Choice Mother She's a Murderer". Patheos.
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. 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.
14. http://www.arkansashouse.org/member/256/
15. "Rep. Nate Bell Won't Seek Re-election In 2016". Fort Smith/Fayetteville News | 5newsonline KFSM 5NEWS. 2015-04-13. Retrieved 2018-02-11.