Colin Geoffrey Bell (born April 20, 1981) is an American
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
*Botswana Democratic Party
*Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*Demo ...
politician who served in the
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
Senate
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
, representing the 2nd Legislative District, from October 5, 2017, to January 9, 2018. Bell was selected to fill the seat of fellow Democrat
Jim Whelan
Jim Whelan (November 8, 1948 – August 22, 2017) was an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey State Senate where he represented the 2nd Legislative District, from January 8, 2008, until his death.
Early life
Whela ...
following Whelan's death; Bell subsequently lost his 2017 general election bid to Republican
Chris A. Brown
Christopher A. Brown (born August 3, 1964) is an American Republican Party politician who represented the 2nd Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate from January 9, 2018, to July 19, 2021, when he left office to accept a position with t ...
. Prior to his tenure in the New Jersey Senate, Bell was an
Atlantic County
Atlantic County is a county located along the southern coast of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the county had a population of 274,534.Freeholder from 2013 to 2015.
Oakcrest High School
Oakcrest High School is a comprehensive four-year public high school located in Hamilton Township, in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The school is part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District, which includes three ...
. He earned a B.A. in political science at
American University
The American University (AU or American) is a private federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C. Its main campus spans 90 acres (36 ha) on Ward Circle, mostly in the Spring Valley neighborhood of Northwest D.C. AU was charte ...
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the ...
. Accessed November 10, 2017. From 2006 to 2008, Bell was an Assistant Atlantic County Prosecutor. He works as an attorney dealing with construction-related litigation.
Political career
Atlantic County Freeholder
Bell ran for one of two at-large seats on the
Atlantic County
Atlantic County is a county located along the southern coast of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the county had a population of 274,534.Board of Chosen Freeholders in 2011 and came in fourth, behind Republicans John Risley and Alex Marino, as well as incumbent Democrat Jim Schroeder, who lost his seat on the board. He ran again in 2012 and won the one open at-large seat on the board, where he served a single three-year term of office. Bell knocked off two-term incumbent Republican Frank Giordano by a 52,632 to 48,828 margin to become the board's second Democrat. On the freeholder board, Bell supported programs to increase openness and fiscal responsibility, help the area recover from Hurricane Sandy and to assist veterans find homes and jobs.
New Jersey Legislature
In 2015, Bell ran for the New Jersey General Assembly in the 2nd District and came in third behind the two incumbents, Republican
Chris A. Brown
Christopher A. Brown (born August 3, 1964) is an American Republican Party politician who represented the 2nd Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate from January 9, 2018, to July 19, 2021, when he left office to accept a position with t ...
and Democrat
Vince Mazzeo
Vincent Mazzeo (born January 6, 1964) is an American Democratic Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2014 to 2022, representing the 2nd Legislative District.
Early life
Mazzeo is part owner of B.F. Mazzeo, a gro ...
, as neither incumbent was able to get his running mate elected despite heavy spending on both sides.
Bell was unanimously selected on September 5, 2017, by the Democratic county committee to fill the remainder of Whelan's senate term following Whelan's death on August 22. He was sworn into office on October 5."Bell Sworn In As New 2nd District Senator" New Jersey Senate Democrats, October 5, 2017. Accessed November 10, 2017.
A resident of
Margate City
Margate City is a city (New Jersey), city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, Atlantic County, New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Margate City's population was 5,317, a reduction of 1,037 over the previous decade.
, Bell had originally planned to run for Assembly in 2017, with Mazzeo running for Whelan's Senate seat. After Mazzeo's father died, Mazzeo decided to run for re-election to his Assembly seat and Bell ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for the vacant Senate seat.DeRosier, John "Colin Bell sworn in as senator, hoping to lead Democrats in November election" ''
The Press of Atlantic City
''The Press of Atlantic City'' is the fourth-largest daily newspaper in New Jersey. Originally based in Pleasantville, it is the primary newspaper for southeastern New Jersey and the Jersey Shore. The newspaper designated market runs from Ware ...
'', October 5, 2017. Accessed November 10, 2017.
In one of the most expensive of the 120 legislative races in the 2017 general election, in which $4.6 million was spent, Republican
Chris A. Brown
Christopher A. Brown (born August 3, 1964) is an American Republican Party politician who represented the 2nd Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate from January 9, 2018, to July 19, 2021, when he left office to accept a position with t ...
defeated Bell by a 54%–46% margin, taking a Senate seat that had been held by Democrats since 2008 and giving the Republicans their only Senate seat that changed parties, in an election that had many major victories for the Democratic Party across the state.Hetrick, Christian "Brown Beats Bell, Snatching a Senate Seat from Democrats" ''
The New York Observer
''The New York Observer'' was a weekly newspaper printed from 1987 to 2016, when it ceased print publication and became the online-only newspaper ''Observer''. The media site focuses on culture, real estate, media, politics and the entertainmen ...