John Bell elected NC House majority leader
By Steve Herring
Published in News on August 31, 2016 7:11 AM
John Bell
State Rep. John Bell of Goldsboro was elected Tuesday by the House Republican caucus to complete Rep. Mike Hager's unexpired term as the Republican House majority leader.
And by Tuesday evening Bell was on his way to Holly Springs to help a Republican candidate for office.
"I am already working," Bell said.
Bell, who served for the past two years as the House majority whip, defeated Rep. Michael Speciale of Craven County for the post.
Rep. Dean Arp of Monroe was elected to complete Bell's term as majority whip.
Bell said in an earlier interview that he felt that experienced gained as majority whip had prepared him to serve as majority leader.
The majority leader leads the direction of the caucus and represents the entire Republican caucus across the state.
The vote totals were not announced.
Hager resigned earlier this month and will enter the private sector. He also is going to be helping look after his father, who is in declining health, Bell said.
"We had some caucus business that we had to take care of, and then we moved into the vote for a new majority leader," Bell said. "Myself and Rep. Speciale got up and gave some statements to the caucus."
After the announcement Bell had won the caucus went on to elect the new majority whip. Arp was nominated and won by acclamation, Bell said.
Arp has served as a deputy whip for the past two years and served as freshman whip during his first two years, Bell said.
Bell said he did not feel any different.
"I am still the same John," he said. "You take a step back. First of all, it is an honor to serve -- to have the folks in your community elect you to represent them in Raleigh is an honor.
"Then to have your colleagues to have enough faith in you to elect you to a leadership position to help lead the caucus is an overwhelming honor. So it is kind of sinking in a little bit that hey, this actually happened. But the reality is I now have a job to do."
Bell said his job is to listen to the voice of caucus members and help direct it and work to retain the GOP's majority in the House.
He said he hopes to help unify the caucus and promote effective communications to spread the GOP's good success story.
He also will work with the caucus conference chair, which is the campaign side of members' re-election campaigns.
"Basically I represent the voice of the other 74 members of the caucus," Bell said. "Of course when we are in session that (office) leads negotiations with the Senate and the governor's office and working with the different chambers.
"It is a large job, but I think I am up to the task."
Bell has filed for a third term for District 10 that includes portions of Wayne, Craven, Greene and Lenoir counties.
He is facing a challenge from Democrat Evelyn Paul in the Nov. 10 General Election.
The house majority term will go to December when the caucus membership elects its new leadership for the next session.
Bell said he would seek a full two-year term in December if he is re-elected in November.
There will be plenty to do over the months even though the legislature is not in session, Bell said.
Bell's duties will include working with caucus members, to call caucuses to keep members informed of what is going on if anything were to come up or if the governor calls the legislature back into session.
Bell said he would also represent the Republican caucus whether it was speaking at an event or traveling across the state helping members -- just as he was doing Wednesday evening.
Fundraising is also a big part of the job, ensuring there are funds needed for re-election, he said.
Bell currently serves as chairman of the Regulatory Reform Committee and of the Select Committee on Wildlife Resources.
Bell is a member of the Homeland Security; Military and Veterans Affairs Committee; Agriculture Committee; Banking Committee; Commerce and Job Development Committee; Finance Committee; Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee; Judiciary III Committee; Public Utilities Committee; and Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House Committee.
He serves as a member of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on the North Carolina State Lottery.
He works in business development for North Carolina Community Federal Credit Union in Goldsboro, where he lives with his wife Kelli Gurley Bell and their daughter Averi Bell.