Brandon Bell (Virginia politician)

American former Virginia state senator and businessman

Brandon Bell

Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 22nd district
In office
January 14, 2004 – January 9, 2008
Preceded by| Bo Trumbo
Succeeded by| Ralph K. Smith
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 21st district
In office
January 11, 1992 – January 10, 1996
Preceded by| Granger Macfarlane
Succeeded by| John Edwards
Personal details
Born|

John Brandon Bell II

(1958-12-20) December 20, 1958 (age 66)
Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.
Political party| Independent
Other political
affiliations| Republican (formerly)
Spouse| Debbie Hurley Bell[1]
Residence| Roanoke County, Virginia
Alma mater| BA, Business Administration, Mississippi State University, 1980[2]
Occupation| Small Businessman, Financial Consultant

John Brandon Bell II (born December 20, 1958)[1] is an American former Virginia state senator and small businessman from Charlottesville. Bell was state senator for two non-consecutive terms, replacing Republican State Senator Malfourd W. Trumbo in an open race over Democratic Party Candidate Stephen H. Emick (a relative of Malfourd's predecessor Dudley J. Emick Jr.) when Trumbo retired after 3 terms, having first been elected in 1991.

Bell did not continue on to the General Election four years later in 2007, having lost the Republican Party Primary by 75 votes to the former one term Roanoke Mayor Ralph K. Smith, largely due to his proposal of a bill seeking to ban smoking in private businesses throughout the state, a bill which failed, however a similar bill, sponsored by Senator Ralph Northam, a Democrat from Norfolk, succeeded in banning smoking in private businesses in 2009.[3]

## Electoral history

[edit]

Virginia State Senate election in the 21st District, 1991  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | J. Brandon Bell II |  | 53.49% | +16.84%
| Democratic | John G. Macfarlane (inc.)  |  | 46.45%  | −16.89%
| Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | N/A  |
Virginia State Senate election in the 21st District, 1995  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | J. Brandon Bell II (inc.)  |  | 45.43%  | −8.06%
| Democratic | John S. Edwards |  | 54.56% | +8.11%
| Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | N/A  |
Virginia State Senate election in the 22nd District, 2003  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | J. Brandon Bell II |  | 53.49% | +16.84%
| Democratic | John G. Macfarlane  |  | 46.45%  | −16.89%
| Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | N/A  |
Virginia State Senate election in the 22nd District, 2007  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | J. Brandon Bell, II |  | 53.49% | +16.84%
| Democratic | John G. Macfarlane (inc.)  |  | 46.45%  | −16.89%
| Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | N/A  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Extended interview with Independent candidate Brandon Bell".
2. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System".
3. ^ "Independent Brandon Bell helped clear the air in Virginia".