Sam Bell (politician) explained

Sam Bell
State Senate:Rhode Island
District:5th
Term Start:January 1, 2019
Birth Date:7 July 1989
Spouse:Samantha Weiser
Children:1
Party:Democratic
Otherparty:Democratic Socialists of America
Predecessor:Paul Jabour
Profession:Geologist

Samuel W. Bell (born July 7, 1989) is an American geologist and politician who serves in the Rhode Island State Senate representing the 5th district in Providence. A Democrat, he was first elected to the senate in the 2018 elections, and assumed office in 2019.[1] Bell is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.[2]

Background

Bell attended Amherst College where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Astronomy and Geology. Bell also attended Brown University where he earned a master's degree in Geosciences and a PhD in Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science. When not in the senate, Bell works as a geologist.

Political career

Bell decided to become involved in politics as a result of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012. Bell defeated incumbent senator Paul Jabour in the Democratic primary in September 2018,[3] and ran unopposed in the general election.[1] He assumed office on January 1, 2019.[4]

Bell ran for re-election in 2020, being challenged in the Democratic primary by majority leader of the Providence City Council Jo-Ann Ryan.[5] Bell defeated Ryan by 50 percentage points, and ran unopposed in the general election.[6]

In 2022, Bell proposed legislation that "would impose fines and double the taxes of those who refuse COVID-19 vaccine".[7]

Personal life

Bell is married to Samantha Weiser, a chairwoman of the Rhode Island Democratic Women's Caucus who also works for Hasbro.[8] [9] Bell and his wife are both Jewish and identify as bisexual.[10] They live together in Mount Pleasant.[11] In October 2018, Bell publicly alleged that he and his wife were personally targeted with antisemitic and homophobic posts from users of the neo-Nazi forum website Stormfront.[10]

Bell and Weiser have one son, Jacob Weiser Bell, born in December 2021, who was diagnosed with infant respiratory distress syndrome after birth.[12]

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.startribune.com/some-rhode-island-democrats-upset-over-murdoch-donation/499452581/ "Some Rhode Island Democrats upset over Murdoch donation"
  2. Web site: Testify for Medicare for All in Rhode Island!.
  3. http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20180912/sam-bell-defeats-longtime-state-sen-paul-jabour-in-democratic-primary "Sam Bell defeats longtime state Sen. Paul Jabour in Democratic primary"
  4. Web site: Belmore . Ryan . General Assembly to convene on New Year's Day . January 2019 . What's Up Newp . 14 January 2022.
  5. Web site: Socialist Legislators Are Taking on Rhode Island's Ultraconservative Democrats. Jacobin. Crowell. Daniel. September 15, 2021. September 17, 2021.
  6. Web site: Sam Bell (Rhode Island). Ballotpedia. September 17, 2021.
  7. Web site: Fitzpatrick. Edward . R.I. bill would impose fines and double the taxes of those who refuse COVID-19 vaccine - The Boston Globe . 2022-04-23 . BostonGlobe.com . en-US.
  8. https://www.rilegislature.gov/senators/bell/Pages/Biography.aspx State of Rhode Island General Assembly
  9. Web site: Eileen . Bridget . Congratulations to Samantha Weiser, Our New Chair of the RI Democratic Women's Caucus . 23 June 2021 . Rhode Island Democratic Women's Caucus.
  10. http://www.golocalprov.com/news/ri-state-senator-elect-alleged-he-is-being-targeted-by-neonazis "RI State Senator-Elect Alleged He is Being Targeted By NeoNazis"
  11. Web site: Sam's Story . sambellpvd . 14 January 2022.
  12. Web site: Gregg . Katherine . With a newborn in intensive care, RI Senator tries and fails to get OK to vote by proxy . . 13 January 2022.