Will Bond

Will Bond (born April 8, 1970) is an attorney and Democratic politician from Little Rock, Arkansas. Born in Jacksonville, Bond studied political science at Vanderbilt University before earning a Juris Doctor at the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1995. Working as an attorney in Central Arkansas, Bond represented the Jacksonville area in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2003 to 2008. He was elected chair of the Democratic Party of Arkansas in 2011, serving until 2013. Bond served in the Arkansas Senate from 2016 to 2021. He lives in Little Rock with his wife Gabriel and their three children.

Will Bond
Member of the Arkansas Senate
from the 32nd district
In office
January 2017 – January 11, 2021
Preceded byDavid Johnson
Succeeded byClarke Tucker
Chair of the Arkansas Democratic Party
In office
February 12, 2011 – July 31, 2013
Preceded byDave Bisbee
Succeeded byVincent Insalaco
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 44th district
In office
January 2003 – January 2008
Preceded byMark Perry
Succeeded byPat Bond
Personal details
Born (1970-04-08) April 8, 1970
Jacksonville, Arkansas
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic Party
SpouseGabriel Bond
ChildrenCy, Marlee, Elliot
Parent(s)Tommy Bond, Pat Bond
ResidenceLittle Rock, Arkansas
Alma materVanderbilt University (BA '92)
University of Arkansas (JD '95)
OccupationAttorney
WebsiteOfficial website

Background

Born April 8, 1970, in Jacksonville, Bond is the son of former State Representative Pat Bond and Tommy Bond. He has two sisters, Melissa Bond and Kelly Bond Emerson. Will Bond graduated from Jacksonville High School. He attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1992, and graduating from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville in 1995.

He worked as an associate at Friday, Eldredge & Clark in Little Rock until 1996. Bond joined Pulaski County Clerk Pat O'Brien in creating the Bond & O'Brien law firm, which would change to Bond & Chamberlin when Neil Chamberlin joined the firm in 2002.[1] Bond succeeded his mother, Pat, in representing the 44th District of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2003 to 2008. Representative Bond's service in the House earned him recognition in Arkansas Business's "40 under 40" list in 2005.[1]

Arkansas's state house and senate offices are part-time positions, and Bond continued legal work during his service in the Arkansas House.[2] Bond joined McMath Woods, P.A., a plaintiff's firm specializing in injury law, as a partner in 2006.[3] He is admitted to practice law in all state and federal courts in Arkansas, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Bond and his wife Gabriel live in Little Rock, Arkansas with their three children.

Democratic Party of Arkansas

On February 12, 2011, Bond was elected to serve as the chair of the Democratic Party of Arkansas.[4] Bond remained in the position until resigning on July 31, 2013. It was speculated Bond was resigning to pursue elected office, including the Arkansas 2nd or Arkansas Attorney General, but he chose not to run. Bond was replaced at the DPA by Vincent Insalaco.[5]

Political career

State House

During his time in the Arkansas House of Representatives (2003-2008), Bond held numerous positions including Chairman of the city, County and Local Affairs Committee and served on the Joint Budget Committee, including being Chair of the Special Language subcommittee.[6] Arkansas Business awarded Bond with the Top 40 Under 40 Award for his legislative work on school consolidation, health savings accounts, efforts to reduce recidivism in the state's Department of Correction and identity theft prevention.[1]

State Senate

On June 18, 2015, Bond announced he would run for the Arkansas State Senate.[7] The 32nd District is a strong Democratic district, located in an affluent section of Little Rock including the Arkansas State Capitol, Colony West, Leawood, Cammack Village, Pleasant Valley, and parts of Chenal Valley. The incumbent, David Johnson, chose to run for Jacksonville/Maumelle District Judge.[8] Initially believed to be a crowded Democratic field, Bond won the Democratic nomination unopposed. Bond defeated Jacob Mosier of the Libertarian Party, 75% to 25%, on November 8, 2016, to win the seat (the Republican Party did not field a candidate).

He was assigned to the city, County and Local Affairs and Judiciary committees. Bond was the primary sponsor of 21 bills in the 91st General Assembly, with four minor bills becoming law. He co-sponsored the Teacher's Classroom Investment Deduction, an up-to $250 tax credit for teachers who buy school supplies out-of-pocket.[9]

References
  1. "Will Bond". 40 Under 40 Award. Arkansas Business. 2005. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  2. Harris, Rodney (January 25, 2017). "Arkansas General Assembly". Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  3. "Will Bond". McMath Woods P.A. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  4. http://arkdems.org/2011/02/12/chairman-will-bond-elected-to-democratic-party-leadership
  5. Brantley, Max (July 31, 2013). "Will Bond steps down as Arkansas Democratic Party chair; Vince Insalaco tapped to succeed him". Arkansas Times. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  6. "Representative Will Bond - Arkansas State Legislature".
  7. "Democrats' Bond in state Senate bid". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. June 18, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  8. Ramsey, David (June 15, 2015). "Sen. David Johnson to run for district court judge". Arkansas Times. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  9. "Act 666 of 2017" (PDF). Arkansas Code. State of Arkansas. March 27, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
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