Larry Bell won't run for re-election
By Joey Pitchford
Published in News on April 11, 2017 10:12 AM
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Rep. Larry Bell
At 77 years old and after nine terms in the state House of Representatives, Rep. Larry Bell is ready to call it a career.
Bell announced at the Wayne County Democratic Party Convention Saturday that he will not seek re-election in 2018, a decision he said it was simply time to make.
"I thought I'd been there long enough. I'm 77 years old now, I've spent -- after this year -- it'll be 18 years in the House, and I wanted to let someone else in. Let some new blood in," he said. "I didn't want to wait until I got sick or couldn't do the job anymore, because I've seen that happen to too many colleagues."
As a former principal and superintendent in Sampson County, Bell said his primary focus while in office has been education. He said he was happy with some of the things he had managed to accomplish in that area.
"I'm most proud of the impact I think I had on education, making sure we maintained low class sizes and other things," he said.
Education was also a source of disappointment for Bell, who said he regretted not being able to raise teacher salaries as much as he felt the teachers deserved. Bell also said it saddened him to see the N.C. Teaching Fellows program fall by the wayside, but that new legislative efforts to bring the program back made him hopeful.
As for his successor, Bell said voters should look for someone who is trustworthy and community-oriented, and who has experience in local government.
"It should be somebody who has some knowledge and experience, because I think that works out better for everyone," he said. "Definitely better than a neophyte who knows nothing."
That focus on grassroots campaigning extends to campaign finance for Bell, who said that raising money during previous campaigns was his least favorite part of the political process.
A new Democratic candidate should focus on speaking to constituents face-to-face and learning their needs, he said, instead of spending time raising money for television ads.
"I am sick and tired of all this money spent on campaigns," he said. "It leads to corruption. You should take the side of the citizens, not whoever gives you the most money, and anyone not willing to make that sacrifice should not seek office in the Democratic party."
Bell said he has enjoyed his time in the General Assembly, and thanked the communities of Duplin, Sampson and Wayne counties for their support over the years. As for life after politics, Bell has a few plans for what he'll spend his time on.
"I have a book that I've been working on to reflect on some of my experiences, and I'd like to finish that," he said. "In 77 years, I've seen a lot of things, and it might not sell many copies, but it could help someone navigate some of the same things I had to deal with."
Bell also said he looks forward to helping mentor his grandchildren, one of whom will graduate from high school this year while the other is a college sophomore. Looking back on his career, Bell framed his experiences in terms of his own educational background.
"After teaching social studies for many years, it has been very interesting to see those things I taught come alive in reality," he said. "I think it's a very valuable experience for anyone to come and see how a bill becomes a law, how ideas become laws. I have enjoyed it."