Bill Sample

William H. 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]

Bill Sample
Member of the Arkansas Senate from the 14th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 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 Hazen, Arkansas, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Betty Ann Owen Sample
Children	2
Residence	Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Occupation	Owner of a pest-control business

Background

Sample was born in Hazen, Arkansas. He attended a year of instruction at University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 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.[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]

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References

1. "Biography of the Honorable Bill Sample, Arkansas State Senator" (PDF). arkleg.state.ar.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
2. "Bill Sample's Biography". votesmart.org. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
3. "Arkansas State Senate elections, 2012". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
4. "Bill Sample's Voting Records". votesmart.org. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
5. "Arkansas Primary Election Results, May 20, 2014". KATV. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
6. "Flippo beats Burris in Arkansas state Senate race". KATV. June 10, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
7. "2014 election Results". Arkansas Secretary of State Elections Page. Retrieved December 26, 2014.

Preceded by Paul Bookout (switched to District 21)	Arkansas State Senator for from District 14 (parts of Garland and Saline counties) William H. "Bill" Sample 2013–	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Terry Smith	Arkansas State Senator for District 19 (including Garland County) William H. "Bill" Sample 2011–2013	Succeeded by David Wyatt
Preceded by Missing	Arkansas State Representative for District 30 (Garland County) William H. "Bill" Sample 2005–2011	Succeeded by Bruce Westerman