Changes

{{Infobox officeholder

{{Infobox officeholder

| name=William H. "Bill" Sample

| name=William H. "Bill" Sample

| birth_date=April 16,  1946

| birth_date=April 16,  1946

| residence=Hot Springs, Arkansas

| residence=Hot Springs, Arkansas

==Political life==

==Political life==

Sample was elected to the Senate in 2010 from District 19 to succeed the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Terry Smith. He defeated another Democrat, Gene Shelby, 14,071 votes (57.1 percent) to 10,550 (42.9 percent). In 2012, Sample was switched to District 14 through [[redistricting]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Arkansas_State_Senate_elections,_2012|title=Arkansas State Senate elections, 2012|publisher=ballotpedia.org|accessdate=December 5, 2013}}</ref> From 2005 to 2011, he served in District 30 in the Arkansas House of Representatives,<ref name=whsample/> having been succeeded in that position by fellow Republican Bruce Westerman of Hot Springs., since the [[U.S. Representative]] for Arkansas' 4th congressional district.

Sample was elected to the Senate in 2010 from District 19 to succeed the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Terry Smith. He defeated another Democrat, Gene Shelby, 14,071 votes (57.1 percent) to 10,550 (42.9 percent). In 2012, Sample was switched to District 14 through [[redistricting]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Arkansas_State_Senate_elections,_2012|title=Arkansas State Senate elections, 2012|publisher=Ballotpedia.org|accessdate=December 9, 2020}}</ref> From 2005 to 2011, he served in District 30 in the Arkansas House of Representatives,<ref name=whsample/> having been succeeded in that position by fellow Republican Bruce Westerman of Hot Springs., since the [[U.S. Representative]] for Arkansas' 4th congressional district.

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.<ref name=whsample/> He is affiliated with the [[conservative]] [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC) and the Council of State Governments.<ref name=bio>{{cite web |url=http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2011/Member%20Profiles/Missy%20Irvin.pdf|title=Biography of the Honorable Bill Sample, Arkansas State Senator|publisher=arkleg.state.ar.us|accessdate=December 5, 2013; information no longer accessible on-line}}</ref>  

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.<ref name=whsample/> He is affiliated with the [[conservative]] [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC) and the Council of State Governments.<ref name=bio>{{cite web |url=http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2011/Member%20Profiles/Missy%20Irvin.pdf|title=Biography of the Honorable Bill Sample, Arkansas State Senator|publisher=arkleg.state.ar.us|accessdate=December 5, 2013; information no longer accessible on-line}}</ref>  

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 compensatio] 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 then [[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 a nonpartisan position. 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 [[pasteurization|unpasteurized]] whole milk within the state and on another bill to require a racial impact statement regarding crimes.<ref name=votingrecords/>

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 compensatio] 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 then [[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 a nonpartisan position. 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 [[pasteurization|unpasteurized]] whole milk within the state and on another bill to require a racial impact statement regarding crimes.<ref name=votingrecords/>

Sample was re-nominated to the state Senate in the Republican primary held on May 20, 2014; he defeated  

Sample was renominated 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).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.katv.com/story/12801589/katv-election-results|title=Arkansas Primary Election Results|date=May 20, 2014|publisher=KATV ([[Little Rock]])|accessdate=May 21, 2014; information no longer accessible on-line}}</ref>  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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.katv.com/story/25745732/flippo-beats-burris-in-arkansas-state-senate-race|title=Flippo beats Burris in Arkansas state Senate race|date=June 10, 2014|publisher=KATV|accessdate=December 9, 2020}}</ref>

Jerry Neal, 5,712 (55 percent) to 4,650 (45 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.katv.com/story/12801589/katv-election-results|title=Arkansas Primary Election Results, May 20, 2014|publisher=[[KATV]]|accessdate=May 21, 2014}}</ref>  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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.katv.com/story/25745732/flippo-beats-burris-in-arkansas-state-senate-race|title=Flippo beats Burris in Arkansas state Senate race|date=June 10, 2014|publisher=KATV ([[Little Rock]])|accessdate=June 17, 2014}}</ref>

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).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AR/53237/149792/Web01/en/summary.html|title=2014 election Results|publisher=Arkansas Secretary of State Elections Page|accessdate=December 26, 2014}}</ref>

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).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AR/53237/149792/Web01/en/summary.html|title=2014 election Results|publisher=Arkansas Secretary of State Elections Page|accessdate=December 9, 2020}}</ref>

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Business People]]

[[Category:Business People]]

[[Category:Politicians]]

[[Category:Politicians]]

[[Category:State Senators]]

[[Category:State Senators]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:United Methodists]]

[[Category:United Methodists]]