
Bill Bell
Republican | West Virginia
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Bill Bell
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary and Municipal General
Race
State Representative, District 8
Incumbent
Yes
EDUCATION
Ashland University, Ashland, OH, MA American History and Government, 2021-2023
Marshall University, Huntington, WV, Post-Grad Cert. School Principalship, 2020-2021
Western Governors University, Salt Lake City, UT, MS Curriculum and Instruction, 2018-2018
WVU Parkersburg, Parkersburg, WV, BA Elementary Education, 2013-2017
WORK & MILITARY
Wetzel County Schools, Teacher, 2019-2026
AFFILIATIONS
Paden City Lions Club, President, 2023-2026
Paden City Development Authority, Member, 2021-2026
Wetzel County Republican Executive Committee, Member, 2022-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Paden City Council Member, 2021-2025
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
WV House of Delegates, 8th District, 2026-2026
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
West Virginia banned abortions; thus, taxpayer money from the state should not be used for this purpose.
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
I would only support this when the life of the mother was at immediate risk, or if the mother was the victim of sexual assault or incest.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
I also support WV SB 173, which would have banned the online mail-order purchase of abortion pills in the state.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
While I am an evangelical Baptist, I am a firm believer in the First Amendment. The government should respect religious beliefs, but they should not intrude in churches' affairs.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Neutral
Free enterprise allows for the refusal of service or business on either side.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes. Our nation was founded on Christian values and principles, and the protection of Israel falls in line with such.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
C.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
I have concerns with registries as a matter of principle.
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
I am not opposed to adjustment for inflation, but I am not interested in overly increasing it ($20-30 an hour, etc.).
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
All state departments should be subject to audit. Purchasing practices should also be consistently monitored and audited to prevent excessive spending and waste. Finally, unnecessary departments should be cut or trimmed to improve efficiency.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Agree
I have no problem with a Dept. of Education that is advisory in capacity, but I would eliminate funded or unfunded mandates from it.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Strongly Agree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
Rehabilitation, not entirely punishment.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
I am willing to listen to both sides and consider an academic-based perspective and compromises when appropriate, but I am generally conservative on matters.
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Agree
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Baptist and stand by my values. My faith guides me through my public service and that as an educator.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
I do not take issue with limited non-photo identification forms for provisional ballots or emergency cases, but outside of that, I support photo-based voter ID.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Neutral
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Neutral
I cannot disagree that it does require some attention or evaluation, but I disagree with programs such as the "New Green Deal" and questionable, wasteful programs.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
West Virginia has abundant coal and natural gas deposits that can be used for the next 200-300 years, and I support both industries.
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