Nate Bell

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Nate Bell

|image =

|state_house = Arkansas

|district = 20th

|term_start = January 2013

|term_end = January 2017

|preceded =

|succeeded = John Maddox

|state_house2= Arkansas

|district2 = 22nd

|term_start2 = January 2011

|term_end2 = January 2013

|preceded2 = Bill Abernathy

|succeeded2 = Bruce Westerman

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|7|17}}

|birth_place = Mena, Arkansas

|death_date =

|death_place =

|resting_place =

|residence = Lincoln, Arkansas

|party = Independent {{small|(2015–present)}}
Republican {{small|(until 2015)}}

|spouse =

|children =

|alma_mater =

|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 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.{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/119111/nate-bell=|title=Nate Bell's Biography|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=January 10, 2014}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Early political career

Bell was elected constable of Potter Township in Polk County in 2004, 2006, and 2008.

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/electionresults/index.php?ac:show:contest_statewide=1&elecid=231&contestid=122|title=State Representative District 022 - Certified, 2010|publisher=sos.arkansas.gov|accessdate=January 10, 2014|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20120820123546/http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/electionresults/index.php?ac:show:contest_statewide=1&elecid=231&contestid=122|archive-date=August 20, 2012}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Arkansas_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2012|title=House District 20, 2012 election returns|publisher=ballotpedia.org|accessdate=January 10, 2014}}

In the 89th General Assembly, Bell served on the House Revenue and Taxation Committee and the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee.

In March 2015, Bell provided forceful support for fellow legislator Justin Harris during his rehoming (aka child abandonment) scandal.{{cite news |author1=Benjamin Hardy |title=Rep. Nate Bell blasts adoption story before seeing it; ‘rehoming’ bill introduced |url=http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2015/03/04/rep-nate-bell-not-a-fan-of-transparency-when-it-comes-to-justin-harris |work=The Arkansas Times |date=March 5, 2015 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20150305093305/http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2015/03/04/rep-nate-bell-not-a-fan-of-transparency-when-it-comes-to-justin-harris |archive-date=March 5, 2015 |language=en-us |url-status=live}}

=Voting history=

Bell's voting includes:{{cite web|title=Representative Jerry 'Nate' Nathan Bell's Voting Records|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/119111/nate-bell#.UXG8ZqKfiSo}}

Date	Bill number	Bill name	Vote
class="wikitable sortable"
March 20, 2013	HB 1855	Classifies the Office of Prosecuting Attorney as Nonpartisan	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
March 19, 2013	HB 1819	Prohibits Governor from Regulating Firearms in an Emergency	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
March 19, 2013	SB 417	Penalties for Violent Offenses Against Fetuses	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
March 13, 2013	SB 2	Requires Photo ID to Vote	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
March 12, 2013	HB 1357	Requires Municipal Special Elections to Be On Certain DaysFee	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
March 6, 2013	SB 134	Prohibits Abortion if Fetal Heartbeat Detected	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
March 5, 2013	HB 1041	Establishes a Spending Cap on the State Budget	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
Feb. 27, 2013	HB 1037	Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
Feb. 21, 2013	SB 134	Prohibits Abortion if Fetal Heartbeat Detected	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
Feb. 21, 2013	HB 1037	Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
Feb. 18, 2013	HB 1295	Establishes Tiered System for Lottery Scholarships	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
Feb. 15, 2013	HB 1243	Authorizes University Staff to Carry a Concealed Handgun	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
Feb. 4, 2013	HB 1037	Prohibits Abortions After 20 Weeks	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
Feb. 4, 2013	HB 1100	Prohibits Abortion Coverage on the State Health Insurance Exchange	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
April 12, 2011	SB 972	Congressional Redistricting	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
March 25, 2011	HB 1958	Authorizes Concealed Handguns In Places of Worship	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
March 25, 2011	HB 1032	Curriculum Standards for Bible Instruction in School Districts	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
March 23, 2011	HB 2007	Requires Driver's License Exams to be in English Only	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
March 21, 2011	HB 1797	Requires Proof of Identity to Vote	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
Feb. 16, 2011	HB 1052	Reducing Taxes on Manufacturer Utilities	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
Feb. 16, 2011	HB 1002	Capital Gains Reduction Act	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
Jan. 20, 2011	HB 1115	Absentee Mayor	style="background-color: #BBF3BB"\|Yea
March 29, 2011	HB 1226	2011-2012 State Insurance Department Budget	style="background-color: #FFBBBB"\|Nay
March 17, 2011	HB 1936	Dress Codes for Public Schools	style="background-color: #FFBBBB"\|Nay
Feb. 15, 2011	SB 154	Cell Phones in School Zones	style="background-color: #FFBBBB"\|Nay
Feb. 7, 2011	HB 1013	Hiring of Unauthorized Workers Bill Passed	style="background-color: #FFBBBB"\|Nay
Feb. 1, 2011	HB 1049	Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones Bill Passed	style="background-color: #FFBBBB"\|Nay
Jan. 31, 2011	HB 1049	Prohibit Cell Phone Use in School Zones	style="background-color: #FFBBBB"\|Nay
March 31, 2011	HB 1226	2011-2012 State Insurance Department Budget	style="background-color: #BBF3FF"\|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.{{cite web|last=Brantley|first=Max|title=Republican State Rep. Nate Bell quotes Hitler|url=http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2011/07/25/republican-nathan-bell-quotes-hitler|publisher=ArkTimes|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130406013747/http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2011/07/25/republican-nathan-bell-quotes-hitler|archive-date=April 6, 2013|url-status=live}}

=The abortion incident=

Bell exchanged e-mails with an Arkansas resident living outside his district, regarding his stance on abortion.{{cite web|last=Mehta|first=Hemant|title=Arkansas State Representative Tells Pro-Choice Mother She's a Murderer|url=http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/04/03/arkansas-state-representative-tells-pro-choice-mother-shes-a-murderer/|publisher=Patheos|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130406031314/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/04/03/arkansas-state-representative-tells-pro-choice-mother-shes-a-murderer/|archive-date=April 6, 2013|url-status=dead}}[http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/119111/nate-bell/2/abortion-issues#.UXG44KKfiSo Bell's voting history in regards to Abortion Laws]

=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?".{{cite news| url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/19/nate-bell-tweet-boston-_n_3116480.html | work=Huffington Post | title=Arkansas State Rep Sends Tactless Boston Tweet | date=April 19, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Lisa|title=Nate Bell, Arkansas State Lawmaker, Sends Insensitive Tweet About 'Boston Liberals'|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/19/nate-bell-tweet-boston-_n_3116480.html|work=Huffington Post|accessdate=2013-04-19|date=April 19, 2013}}

Bell's remarks outraged many in Massachusetts, Arkansas, and throughout the country.{{cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/ae/radio/blog/2013/04/why_are_so_many_bostonians_telling_arkansas_state_senator_nate_bell_hes_an_idiot.html | work=The Boston Globe | first=Carly | last=Carioli | date=April 19, 2013 | title=How many Bostonians are telling Arkansas state senator Nate Bell he's an idiot?| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420210023/http://www.boston.com/ae/radio/blog/2013/04/why_are_so_many_bostonians_telling_arkansas_state_senator_nate_bell_hes_an_idiot.html|archivedate=April 20, 2013}} 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."{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206212026/http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/92086/us-rep-nate-bell-criticized-for-boston-manhunt-tweet|url=http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/92086/us-rep-nate-bell-criticized-for-boston-manhunt-tweet|title=State Rep. Nate Bell Criticized for 'Boston Liberals' Tweet|work=Arkansas Business News|archivedate=December 6, 2013|date=April 19, 2013|author=Andrew DeMillo}}

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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.arkansashouse.org/member/256/ |title=Nate Bell, R-20 |access-date=2013-04-19 |archive-date=2013-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429181039/http://www.arkansashouse.org/member/256/ |url-status=dead }}

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.{{Cite news|url=http://5newsonline.com/2015/04/13/rep-nate-bell-wont-seek-reelection-in-2016/|title=Rep. Nate Bell Won't Seek Re-election In 2016|date=2015-04-13|work=Fort Smith/Fayetteville News {{!}} 5newsonline KFSM 5NEWS|access-date=2018-02-11|language=en-US}}