Robert J. Bentley
Robert Bentley | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 53rd Governor of Alabama | |
| Assumed office January 17, 2011 | |
| Lieutenant | Kay Ivey |
| Preceded by | Bob Riley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 3, 1943 Columbiana, Alabama, United States |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Dianne Bentley |
| Residence | Governor's Mansion |
| Alma mater | University of Alabama |
| Profession | Dermatologist |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1969–1975 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Robert Julian Bentley (born February 3, 1943)[1] is an American politician, medical doctor, and the 53rd and current Governor of Alabama. He assumed the governorship on January 17, 2011, having defeated Ron Sparks in the 2010 Alabama gubernatorial election.[2]
Early life, education and career
Bentley is a native of Columbiana, Alabama, in Shelby County. His father was David Harford Bentley, and his mother was Mattie Boyd Vick Bentley, neither of whom completed school past junior high. Bentley grew up in Columbiana, where he was a member of Shelby County High School's 1961 state championship debate team, and he became student body president in his senior year of high school.[3]
After graduating from Shelby County High School at the top of his class, Bentley enrolled at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. While at Alabama, Bentley majored in Chemistry and Biology and graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in three years.[citation needed]
From an early age, Robert Bentley knew he wanted to become a doctor. After graduating from UA, he began his studies at The University of Alabama School of Medicine. During his first year of medical school, he met Martha Dianne Jones of Montgomery. They were married on July 24, 1965. He graduated with his M. D. in 1968 and began his one year internship at Carraway Methodist Hospital in Birmingham.
Following his military service, Bentley began a three-year residency at the University of Alabama in dermatology. He then opened his dermatology practice in Tuscaloosa.
Military service
Bentley joined the United States Air Force in 1969 as a captain. He served as a general medical officer at Pope Air Force Base in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He served as an interim hospital commander for 90 days near the end of his tenure.
In June 2010, the president of the Alabama chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America asked for Bentley's clarification regarding his depiction as a possible "theater" serving veteran. No fault was found in Bentley's campaign ads, as they did not show images that would represent him fighting or treating soldiers in Vietnam.[4]
Business career
Bentley has founded a number of small businesses, the most successful of which is Alabama Dermatology Associates. As President of Alabama Dermatology Associates, Bentley managed the practice’s growth into one of the largest dermatology practices in the Southeastern United States.[5]
Bentley is a board certified dermatologist, and he served two terms as President of the Alabama Dermatology Society. He has also been named to “Best Doctors in America,” selected by his peers.[3] Bentley is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology and the Medical Association of Alabama.
Political career
In 2002, Bentley was elected to the Alabama State House of Representatives from Tuscaloosa County with almost 65% of the vote.[citation needed] In 2006, Bentley ran unopposed for re-election to the State House. During his time in Montgomery, he has served on the Education Appropriations Committee, the Boards and Commissions Committee, the Agriculture and Forestry Committee, and has been a member of the Tuscaloosa County Legislative Delegation. He also serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Internal Affairs Committee.[6]
In the Alabama House of Representatives, Bentley made it a priority to train primary care health care providers and to increase organ donation. He is responsible for two major revisions of Alabama’s organ donor laws: one was specific to corneas and the other reinforced the rights of organ donors by making it difficult to challenge their decisions.
Bentley also helped establish the Alabama Medical Educational Consortium.[citation needed] His efforts include work on legislation to expand scholarships for medical training.[citation needed]
Bentley is opposed to raising taxes. He has signed the No New Taxes Pledge by the Americans for Tax Reform.[7]
In April 2010, Bentley's self-drafted Reemployment Act of 2010 won unanimous approval in both houses of the Alabama State Legislature, and was signed by Governor Bob Riley on April 22 nd.[8]
In 2008, Bentley was elected as a Republican Presidential Delegate for Mike Huckabee. At the Republican National Convention he represented Alabama on the Republican Platform Committee.[3]
2010 Gubernatorial campaign
In the June 1, 2010 primary race, Bentley surprised political analysts by finishing 2nd ahead of Tim James to reach a runoff election with Bradley Byrne.[9] One of James' supporters, former U.S. Representative Sonny Callahan, endorsed Bentley in the runoff.[10]
In the July 13 run-off election, Bentley defeated Bradley Byrne by a 56%-44% margin to claim the Republican nomination for Governor. Bentley came under fire from his opponents and some in the Alabama Republican Party for not completely disagreeing with the Alabama Education Association. He maintains that his record includes votes both for and against the AEA.[11] During the primary runoff, the Alabama Education Association ran a series of ads against Bentley's opponent Bradley Byrne.[12]
Bentley has stated he does not approve of gambling in the State of Alabama, but supports a referendum for its citizens to vote on whether to approve its legality.[13]
Bentley also has been criticized for changing his name to 'Dr. Robert Bentley', then changing it back after Republican Party officials refused to accept it.[14][15]
Alabama Governors take office on the third Monday every four years. Bentley was sworn in to his first term on January 17, 2011.
Controversy
Shortly after taking office on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Bentley gave a speech at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery and said "anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I'm telling you, you're not my brother and you're not my sister, and I want to be your brother."[16] Bentley's message was called "oddly exclusionary," though it was "hardly the first time a Southern governor has gotten in trouble for making statements that offend non-Christians."[17]
Personal life
He and his wife Dianne have four sons: John Mark, Paul, Luke, and Matthew. They have five grandchildren.
Bentley is an active member of First Baptist Church Tuscaloosa where he serves as a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher. At FBC Tuscaloosa, he has been the Chairman of the Board of Deacons four times and a member of the Youth for Christ Advisory Board as well as the Family Counseling Advisory Board. Bentley has also served on the State Advisory Board for Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Currently, he serves on the Board of Trustees for Judson College in Marion, Alabama and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Alabama Medical Education Consortium, which he helped found.
Bentley is the 2009 recipient of the Christian Coalition of Alabama’s Statesmanship Award.[18]
References
- ^ http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/05/campaign_2010_robert_bentley_a.html
- ^ "Welcome to the Alabama State Legislature". Legislature.state.al.us. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
- ^ a b c "Robert Bentley for Governor 2010 - Biography". Robertbentley2010.com. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ^ "Vietnam veterans group president asks Bentley to clarify his military service".
- ^ "Welcome to the Alabama State Legislature". Legislature.state.al.us. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ^ "Welcome to the Alabama State Legislature". Legislature.state.al.us. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ^ Huckabee, Mike (2010-06-29). "Blogs - Huck PAC Endorses Dr. Robert Bentley For Governor In Alabama". Huck PAC. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
- ^ "Bentley's Ala. jobs bill nears passage". TuscaloosaNews.com. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
- ^ http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/06/bentley.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100627/NEWS02/6270318/Bentley-Byrne-seek-support-of-recent-rivals.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/06/campaign_2010_bradley_byrne_ro.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ http://blog.al.com/live/2010/07/aea_admits_role_byrne_attack_ads.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ http://cfc.abc3340.com/printstory.cfm?id=749734.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Sparks ad needles Bentley name change, Phillip rawls, AP, Montgomery Advertiser, October 8, 2010
- ^ Ron Sparks claims Robert Bentley changed name for politics, The State Column, October 8, 2010
- ^ White, David (2011-01-17) Gov.-elect Robert Bentley intends to be governor over all, but says only Christians are his 'brothers and sisters', Birmingham News
- ^ Elliott, Justin (2011-01-18) Governor: Only Christians are my brothers, Salon.com
- ^ "CCA ccanews". Ccalabama.org. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
External links
- Representative Dr. Robert Bentley official state site
- Dr. Robert Bentley for Governor official campaign site
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Dr. Robert Bentley on primary care physician compensation in healthcare reform at the Republican National Committee Platform Hearings, August 27, 2008, video on C-SPAN (starting at 00:40:50)
