Bill Sample

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Bill Sample
Member of the Arkansas Senate
from the 14th district
Assumed office
2013
Preceded by Paul Bookout (switched to District 21; resigned 2013)
Member of the Arkansas Senate
from the 19th district
In office
2011–2013
Preceded by Terry Smith
Succeeded by David Wyatt
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 30th district
In office
2005–2011
Succeeded by Bruce Westerman
Personal details
Born William H. Sample
(1946-04-16) April 16, 1946 (age 77)
Hazen, Prairie County
Arkansas, USA
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Betty Ann Owen Sample
Children Two daughters, Cleta and Brandi
Residence Hot Springs, Garland County
Arkansas
Alma mater Little Rock University
Occupation Owner of a pest-control business
Religion United Methodist

William H. "Bill" Sample (born April 16, 1946) is the operator of a pest-control business in Hot Springs in Garland County in west central Arkansas, who is a Republican member of the Arkansas State Senate. Since January 2013, he has represented Senate District 14, which includes Garland and Saline counties.[1]

Background

Sample was born in Hazen in Prairie County in east central Arkansas. He attended a year of instruction at Little Rock University, during the time that the institution was private. He is self-employed in the resort city of Hot Springs. Sample and his wife, the former Betty Ann Owen (born 1956), have two daughters, Cleta and Brandi. He is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.[2]

Political life

Sample was elected to the Senate in 2010 from District 19 to succeed the Democrat Terry Smith. He defeated another Democrat, Gene Shelby, 14,071 to 10,550 votes. In 2012, Sample was switched to District 14 through redistricting. His current term expires in 2016.[3] From 2005 to 2011, he served in District 30 in the Arkansas House of Representatives,[2] having been succeeded in that position by fellow Republican Bruce Westerman of Hot Springs.

Sample is vice chair of the Arkansas Legislative Council and a member of these Senate committees: (1) State Game and Fish Commission Oversight, (2) Budget, (3) Efficiency, (4) Legislative Joint Auditing, (5) Revenue and Tax, and (6) Public Retirement and Social Security Programs.[2] He is affiliated with the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the Council of State Governments.[1]

Sample opposes abortion, having voted to ban the practice after twenty weeks of gestation or whenever fetal heartbeat is determined. He opposes allowing abortion to be covered in health-care plans.[4] In 2008, as a House member, Sample voted to raise severance taxes on four categories of natural gas, with the funds allocated for state highway improvements. In 2009, Representative Sample joined a one-third minority in opposing an increase in the state minimum wage. In 2011, Senator Sample did not vote on a bill to ban cell phones in school zones on grounds of safety considerations.[4]

In 2013, Sample joined the Senate majority to amend state income tax rates. He did not vote on legislation to reduce the amount of weekly unemployment compensation benefits, but he did support a related bill to require the recipients to be screened for illegal use of narcotics. He voted successfully to override Democratic Governor Mike Beebe's veto of a bill to require photo identification when one casts a ballot in Arkansas. He opposed legislation to make the office of prosecuting attorney in Arkansas nonpartisan. He voted to allow handguns to be carried on church properties and to forbid the release of information on the holders of concealed carry permits. He voted to allow university staff to carry concealed weapons. He did not vote on a bill to permit the sale of unpasteurized whole milk within the state and on another bill to require a racial impact statement regarding crimes.[4]

Sample was re-nominated to the state Senate in the Republican primary held on May 20, 2014; he defeated Jerry Neal, 5,712 (55 percent) to 4,650 (45 percent).[5] Neal based much of his campaign on Sample's vote for the "private option" Medicaid program by which the state purchases health insurance for its most needy citizens.[6]

In the general election held on November 4, 2014, Sample won a four-year term in the state Senate by defeating the Independent George Pritchett, 20,899 votes (71 percent) to 8,460 (29 percent).[7]

References

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Preceded by
Paul Bookout (switched to District 21)
Arkansas State Senator from District 14 (parts of Garland and Saline counties)

William H. "Bill" Sample
2013–

Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Terry Smith
Arkansas State Senator from District 19 (including Garland County)

William H. "Bill" Sample
2011–2013

Succeeded by
David Wyatt
Preceded by
Missing
Arkansas State Representative from District 30 (Garland County)

William H. "Bill" Sample
2005–2011

Succeeded by
Bruce Westerman