State Representative Matt Bell Declares Candidacy for State Senate

Press Release from Matt Bell for State Senate below.

This morning, State Representative Matt Bell (District 83, Republican) announced his candidacy to succeed Robert L. “Bob” Meeks as the Senator from Indiana’s 13th Senate District. Yesterday morning, Rep. Bell filed paperwork declaring himself a candidate for the caucus to fill the ballot vacancy resulting from Sen. Meeks’ announcement of his intention to withdraw from the November General Election ballot.

“I have been humbled and honored by the calls and comments from folks across the 13th Senate District asking me to represent them in the Indiana State Senate. My wife, Jackie, and I have carefully considered this decision, and we are committed to working as hard as we can to earn the opportunity to fill the ballot vacancy, and win the General Election in November so that we can help lead the fight for a better northeast Indiana in the State Senate.”

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Bell’s announcement follows Senator Meeks’ announcement to withdraw from the ballot one week ago. The 13th Senate District includes all of Noble and LaGrange Counties, and parts of Steuben, Kosciusko, and Dekalb counties. A caucus of elected and appointed precinct officials from the 68 precincts represented in the Senate district will determine the Republican candidate that will stand for election in November.

“For the past twenty years, we have been incredibly fortunate to be represented in the Indiana State Senate by Bob Meeks,” Bell said. “He has worked tirelessly to insure that our community’s concerns are addressed by State Government. Bob has been a great friend to this region, and a wonderful mentor to me. I look forward to carrying his legacy of excellent representation forward as the next Senator from the 13th District.”

“My goals as a State Senator are two-fold. I will work night and day to insure that our community’s concerns and ideas remain relevant in the Indiana General Assembly. Just as importantly, I am committed to the principle that State Government must be responsive to the concerns of its citizens. I have earned a reputation for serving constituents well by making sure their concerns are heard and that they are responded to. That same level of constituent service will be a hallmark of my service in the Indiana State Senate.”

Rep. Bell was appointed by a Republican caucus to the General Assembly in May of 2005 to represent the 83rd House District, and was reelected in 2006. Representative Bell serves as the Ranking Minority Member of the Public Policy Committee and also serves on the Labor and Employment Committee and the Family Children and Human Affairs Committee. Previously he served on the Insurance Committee and the Natural Resources Committee. As State Representative, Bell represents portions of Whitley, Noble and Allen Counties.

During the 2008 legislative session, Matt authored HB 1162 which created a youth advisory council to report to the Indiana General Assembly on issues that impact young people across the state. The bill also allows the presiding officer of a city council to appoint a youth adviser so that young people can learn about and participate in local government. In addition, he co-authored HB 1118 which provided some of the most sweeping reform in regulations regarding the sale of alcohol in a generation. Rep. Bell also coauthored HB 1290 which extends foster care benefits to young adults through age 21 to ease the transition to independence.

When not serving in the General Assembly, Matt is the Executive Director of the Literacy Empowering and Advocating Project (LEAP) of Noble County. During his tenure, LEAP has grown from a small community based not-for-profit organization into an organization that serves more than 450 students each week with classes in Albion, Ligonier, and Kendallville. LEAP’s annual revenues have tripled over the past five years. He has previously served as an elected member of the St. Mary of the Assumption (Avilla) School Board and a member of the Parish Finance Committee. He also helped coordinate the religious education program at St. Mary’s for two years (2003-2004). In addition, he served as a 4-H leader in Swan Township for five years, is an active member of Rotary International, and the Masonic Lodge. He has also volunteered with Big Brothers/ Big Sisters and participates in several community initiatives including the Region III-A Economic Development Executive Board, the Governor’s Commission for a Drug Free Indiana, and the Drug Free Noble County Community Board.

This spring, Matt was named the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Champion for 2007. Matt achieved a 95% voting record, the highest percentage achieved by any elected official in the Indiana General Assembly, on issues of importance to the Indiana Chamber of Commerce during the 2008 session. His two year aggregate rating from the Chamber was also 95% which ranked second among all legislators during the 115th General Assembly. Matt also enjoys a 100% voting record on pro-life issues, and has not cast a vote that would curtail the rights of gun owners in Indiana.

Matt is married to Jackie (Riecke) Bell of Noble County. They have two children, a son Mitchell (5) and a daughter Adara (4). Jackie is the youngest of Phil and Kate Riecke’s ten children, all of whom reside within a 20 mile radius of the home they grew up in south of Avilla. The Bell family is a mere 234 steps from Mr. and Mrs. Reicke’s door. The Bell’s enjoy the closeness of more than 35 nieces and nephews and eight great nieces and nephews in the area. Jackie is the volunteer coach of Noble County’s highly successful livestock judging team, as well as a Swan Township 4-H leader, and a member of the Noble County Public Library Board.

Monday, Matt filed paperwork establishing the Committee to Elect Matt Bell. Matt’s Senate Committee is chaired by Noble County Prosecutor Steven Clouse. Kendallville pharmacist Larry Allen has agreed to serve as the treasurer of Matt’s Senate Campaign Committee.

“Northeast Indiana is our home, the place where we have chosen to raise our family. We work hard locally to support activities that we believe make our community a great place to live, work, and raise a family. That same commitment and focus guides my service in the Indiana General Assembly.

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