Rob Bell

Rob Bell
Virginia House of Delegates District 58
Incumbent
In office
2002 - Present
Term ends
January 8, 2014
Years in position	11
Party	Republican
Compensation
Base salary	$17,640/year
Per diem	$135/day
Elections and appointments
Last election	November 8, 2011
First elected	2001
Next election	November 5, 2013
Term limits	N/A
Education
Bachelor's	University of Virginia
J.D.	University of Virginia School of Law, 1995
Personal
Birthday	04/23/1967
Place of birth	Palo Alto, CA
Profession	Attorney
Religion	Methodist
Websites
Office website
Personal website
Campaign website

Robert B. Bell is a Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 58 since 2002.

Bell ran unsuccessfully for attorney general of Virginia in 2013, losing to State Sen. Mark Obenshain at the Republican primary nominating convention on May 18, 2013.

Bell's professional experience includes working as an attorney, state prosecutor, and legal representative. He earned his B.A. from the University of Virginia in 1988 and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1995.

Issue positions

Bell's official website lists his main issues as mental health reform, better schools, and public safety. He has worked to pass laws in each area:

• Mental health reform - "established clear lines of responsibility and oversight over those receiving outpatient care," "revised standard for involuntary commitment," and "colleges can inform parents when their child might seriously harm himself or others."
• Better schools - "Ban criminal sex offenders from schools during school hours," "Require schools to establish bullying prevention programs," "Require schools to notify parents when a child is a victim of a crime," and "Require additional background checks for school teachers."
• Public safety - "New drunk driving laws crack down on repeat offenders and “super drunk” drivers," "Laws to mandate jail for drunks who drive with children in the car," "Laws to promote prosecution of child pornographers and sexual predators," and "Laws to keep violent sexual predators off of school property during school hours."

Committee assignments

2012-2013

In the 2012-2013 session, Bell served on the following committees:

• Commerce and Labor
• Courts of Justice, Vice Chair
• Health, Welfare and Institutions
• Privileges and Elections

2010-2011

In the 2010-2011 session, Bell served on the following committees:

• Courts of Justice
  • Mental Health Subcommittee, Chair
  • Criminal Law Subcommittee
• Health, Welfare and Institutions
  • Subcommittee #3, Chair
• Privileges and Elections
  • Appointments Subcommittee, Chair
  • Constitutional Amendments Subcommittee
• Rules
  • Ethics (Special) Subcommittee, Chair

Sponsored legislation

• HB 2391 Foreign service; search warrant for electronic communications.
• HB 2404 Virginia Universities Clean Energy Development and Economic Stimulus Foundation; created.
• HB 2650 Citizens' Right to Know: Pretrial Release Act; pretrial agencies keep detailed record & case record.

Elections

2013

See also: Virginia attorney general election, 2013

Bell ran for the Republican nomination for attorney general in 2013. Bell lost to Harrisonburg State Senator Mark Obenshain at the Republican Party of Virginia's statewide primary nominating convention on May 17-18. The general election will take place on November 5, 2013.

Race background

In March 2013, Governing magazine rated Virginia's open attorney general seat as "vulnerable" heading into the 2013-2014 elections because incumbent Republican Ken Cuccinelli is not running for re-election.

The race to replace Cuccinelli began at the primary nomination stage; both Republican convention and Democratic election candidates drew primary contests. On May 18, two "strong fiscal and social conservatives" -- state Sen. Mark Obenshain and and state Rep. Rob Bell -- competed for delegate votes at the Republican Party of Virginia's closed nominating convention, which Obenshain won. The nominee's late father, GOP politician Richard Obenshain, died in a plane crash during his 1978 campaign for U.S. Senate. Obenshain will square off against state Sen. Mark Herring in the general election. Herring defeated former assistant U.S. Attorney for Virginia Justin Fairfax in the Democratic primary election, which took place on June 11, 2013.

Endorsements

Bell's campaign has been endorsed by the following individuals:

5th Congressional District Congressman Robert Hurt Albemarle County Sheriff Chip Harding Honorable Ken Boyd, County Supervisor Honorable Rodney Thomas, County Supervisor Amelia County Honorable Jim Bennett, County Supervisor Bland County Honorable Nick Asbury, County Supervisor & Republican Committee Chair Botetourt County Delegate Christopher Head Buchanan County Honorable Roger Rife, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Campbell County Delegate Matt Fariss Caroline County Delegate Robert Orrock Jeff Sili, Republican Committee Chair Chesapeake Honorable Rick West, City Councilor Honorable Nancy Parr, Commonwealth’s Attorney Dr. John de Triquet, Vice Mayor Honorable Christie New Craig, Vice Chairman, Chesapeake School Board Chesterfield County Delegate Roxann Robinson Sheriff Dennis Proffitt City of Hopewell Sheriff Greg Anderson Colonial Heights Delegate Kirk Cox Honorable C. Scott Davis, Mayor Danville Delegate Daniel Marshall III Emporia Carla Harris, Republican Committee Chair Woody Harris, Emporia City Council Fairfax Delegate David Albo Delegate Thomas Rust Honorable John C. Cook, County Supervisor Honorable John Peterson, Director NOVA SWCD Fauquier County Honorable Lee Sherbeyn, County Supervisor Fluvanna County Honorable Jeff Haislip, Commonwealth’s Attorney Debbie Rittenhouse, Republican Committee Chair Franklin County Delegate Charles Poindexter Giles County Mae Midkiff, Republican Committee Chair Grayson County State Senator Bill Carrico Greene County Sheriff Steven Smith Gary Lowe, Republican Committee Chair Halifax County Delegate James Edmunds Hanover County Delegate Christopher Peace Honorable Trip Chalkley, Commonwealth’s Attorney Sheriff Dave Hines Honorable Wayne Hazzard, County Supervisor Former Delegate Frank Hargrove Honorable Sean Davis, County Supervisor Henrico County Delegate John O’Bannon Former Delegate Bill Janis Sheriff Mike Wade Isle of Wight County Delegate Rick Morris Bill Coburn, Republican Committee Chair Loudoun County Delegate Tag Greason Delegate Joe May Delegate David Ramadan Louisa County State Senator Tom Garrett Bob Arment, Republican Committee Chair Lunenburg County Delegate Thomas Wright Jr. Mike Hankins, Republican Committee Chair Madison County Delegate Edward Scott Honorable George Webb, Commonwealth’s Attorney William Harvill, Republican Committee Chair Manassas City Steven Thomas, Republican Committee Chair Newport News Hazel Call, Hampton Roads Republican Women Chair Norfolk Joyce Mathews, Republican Committee Secretary Nottoway County Ronald L. Chipper, Republican Committee Chair Orange County Doug Rogers, Republican Committee Chair Sheriff Mark Amos Honorable Diana Wheeler, Commonwealth’s Attorney Petersburg Debra Mallory, 1st Vice Chair Tri-City Republican Women Pittsylvania County Delegate Donald Merricks Chris Carter, Former Republican Committee Chair Poquoson Delegate Gordon Helsel, Jr. Paul Keddell, Republican Committee Chair Portsmouth Honorable Ted Lamb, School Board Powhatan County Delegate Lee Ware Jr. Prince George County Barbara Tabb, Former Republican Committee Chair Prince William County Delegate Richard Anderson Delegate Jackson Miller Honorable Peter Candland, County Supervisor Richmond Jerilynn Grigsby, Tuckahoe Republican Women Chair Roanoke County Former Delegate William Fralin Scott County Delegate Terry Kilgore Spotsylvania County Delegate Mark Cole Stafford County Delegate Mark Dudenhefer Delegate William Howell, Speaker, House of Delegates Tazewell County Delegate James W. Morefield Virginia Beach Delegate Salvatore Iaquinto Delegate Barry Knight Delegate Harry Purkey Delegate Christopher Stolle Delegate Ronald Villanueva Honorable Patrick Salyer, School Board Member Washington County Delegate Israel O’Quinn Westmoreland County Delegate Margaret Ransone

For a complete list of Bell's supporters, visit his Official campaign website.

2011

See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2011

On November 8, 2011, Bell won re-election to District 58 of the Virginia House of Delegates. He was uncontested in the August 23 primary and ran unopposed the November 8 general election.

2009

See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2009

In 2009, Bell was re-elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.

Virginia House of Delegates General Election, District 58 (2009)
Candidates		Votes
Rob Bell (R)		18,402
Cynthia Neff (D)		8,948

Delegate Bell at a tax day tea party

Campaign donors

2011

In 2011, Bell received $405,559 in campaign donations. The top contributors are listed below.

Virginia House of Delegates 2011 election - Campaign Contributions
Top contributors to Rob Bell's campaign in 2011
Piedmont Leadership PAC	$50,000
Gilliam Sr, Richard B	$40,000
Gilliam Sr, Richard B	$12,500
Galbraith, John W	$10,000
Fort Hill Investors LLC	$7,500
Total Raised in 2011	$405,559

2009

The top 5 donors to Bell's 2009 campaign:

Contributor	2009 total
Piedmont Leadership PAC	$314,544
Richard B Gilliam Sr.	$30,000
R. Ted Weschler	$16,000
Barbara J. Fried	$10,000
Fort Hill Limited Partnership	$10,000

Personal

Bell and his wife, Jessica, have one child.

External links

Suggest a link

• Rob Bell - Official Campaign Website
• Delegate Rob Bell official website
• Virginia House of Delegates - Rep. Bell
• Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
• Biography from Project Vote Smart
• Campaign Contributions: 2009, 2007, 2005, 2003, 2001
• Richmond Sunlight profile
• Delegate Bell Facebook profile

References

Political offices
Preceded by -	Virginia House of Delegates District 58 2002–present	Succeeded by NA