Pat Bell is a passionate defender of Constitutional Rights, family farming, and people deciding what’s best for themselves and their families. As such, he believes strongly in the principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility and individual liberty.
The Bell Ranch in Springdale/Valley, WA
Pat grew up on his family’s two farms in Springdale and Camano Island, Washington. He worked alongside his parents and five older siblings in the hayfields, at the woodpile, and showing dairy cows and pigs in 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA).
On the farms, his family raised Holstein replacement heifers (“springers”), laying hens for farm fresh eggs, and purebred Angus beef cow/calf pairs, alfalfa and grass hay.
Pat was part of the first generation in his family to earn a Bachelor’s degree. He worked his way through college as a work-study intern, campus safety officer, and as a processor and night watchman at a salmon cannery in remote Alaska. Later, Pat went back for a Masters in Public Administration, earning a prestigious U.S. Fulbright Fellowship to study Energy Economics abroad.
Pat’s family are fifth generation farmers in Washington state, with his dad’s family first homesteading over a hundred years ago in the Okanogan Highlands above Chesaw (near the site of today’s Chesaw Rodeo Grounds).
Pat’s mother, Debra (Dainard) Bell grew up working in her mother’s restaurant, the Round Up Cafe in Oroville, and his father, Duane Bell, was raised in Tonasket on the family apple orchard.
For over 20 years, Pat has worked in communications and public policy at the local, state, and federal levels. Pat served as a senior staff member for Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers for eight years, from 2010-2012 in Washington, D.C. and from 2018-2023 in Spokane. He also managed the Congresswoman’s 2018 re-election campaign, and later oversaw her three district offices in Eastern Washington. In this capacity, he worked closely with the Trump Administration and the President’s appointees in Eastern Washington.
Two of Pat’s grandfathers, Irving Bell and Delmar Faulks, were World War II veterans. Delmar later served in Korea and Vietnam, retiring after 26 years of service as a three-conflict combat veteran.
When Pat was old enough to hold a rifle and fishing pole, he and his Grandpa Delmar hunted and fished all over Okanogan, Ferry, and Stevens Counties. Summers were spent on Lake Osoyoos, Wannacut Lake, Palmer Lake, Okanogan and Columbia Rivers, Conconully, Hunters, Kettle Falls, Mt. Hull, Mt. Bonaparte and Chopaka Mountain just to name a few!
His grandfathers’ service to country helped inspire Pat’s interest in joining the Congresswoman’s staff. It also instilled in him a passion for helping veterans and their families, especially when they experienced complicated issues accessing the benefits they had earned.
During his time in the Congressional Office, Pat helped recruit and oversee a Wounded Warrior Fellow and Gold Star Fellow who focused on recognizing the service of veterans across Eastern Washington. Programs included recording accounts of service for the Veterans History Project to be placed in the Library of Congress, and organizing veteran recognition events, such as Vietnam Veterans “Welcome Home” ceremonies. He also helped veterans’ groups and community leaders successfully advocate with the State of Washington to rename State Route Number 902 near the Washington State Veterans Cemetery as the Gold Star Memorial Highway.
Pat currently works for Spokane County, and markets his family ranch’s beef. He has been married to his college sweetheart Resa, a social worker, for 15 years. They live on a small homestead of their own now in South Stevens County, and have two children in local public schools.
Pat Bell 