By Bill Richmond, originally published in Winchester News-Gazette.
Rex Bell, of Hagerstown, has announced his intention to seek the Libertarian Party nomination for the District 54 Indiana House of Representatives seat.
This will be Bell’s third run for the position.
Bell received 14 percent of the vote in a 3-way race in 2006, and 33 percent of the vote in a 2-way race in 2008.
“We were encouraged by the increased support and vote totals in 2008,” Bell said. “A similar increase this election would put me over the top. Besides, if I was the type of person to give up after two tries, I never would have made it through the third grade.”
Bell has owned and operated a home construction business in Hagerstown since 1974. He and his wife Susan have three children and four grandchildren. He currently serves on the Hagerstown Planing Commission, the Hagerstown Board of Zoning Appeals, and the New Castle Area Building Trades Vocational School Advisory Board.
“I’m running because I don’t believe enough is being done to straighten out the property tax mess.” explained Bell. “We’re also seeing so much government expansion coming from Washington that we need state legislators that aren’t afraid to exercise our 9th and 10th Amendment rights. I also believe ethics and integrity are important in our elected officials, and I hope to get the chance to carry those qualities to Indianapolis.”
District 54 contains portions of Wayne and Henry counties, as well as the southern half of Randolph County – excluding Winchester. There are currently three elected Libertarians serving in Wayne and Henry County.