Robert J. Bentley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robert J. Bentley
53rd Governor of Alabama
In office January 17, 2011 – April 10, 2017
Lieutenant	Kay Ivey
Preceded by	Bob Riley
Succeeded by	Kay Ivey
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives from the 63rd district
In office January 3, 2003 – November 3, 2010
Preceded by	Tim Parker
Succeeded by	Bill Poole
Personal details
Born	Robert Julian Bentley (1943-02-03) February 3, 1943 (age 82) Columbiana, Alabama, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Dianne Jones ​ ​ (m. 1965; div. 2015)​
Children	4
Education	University of Alabama (BS) University of Alabama at Birmingham (MD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Air Force
Years of service	1969–1975
Rank	Captain

Robert Julian Bentley (born February 3, 1943) is an American doctor and former politician. He served as the 53rd governor of Alabama from 2011 to 2017. As a member of the Republican Party, Bentley was elected governor in 2010 and won re-election in 2014.

Before becoming governor, Bentley was a doctor specializing in skin care, called dermatology. He served as a medical officer in the United States Air Force. He was also elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2002, where he served for eight years.

In 2017, Bentley resigned as governor after facing a major controversy. He pleaded guilty to breaking two campaign finance laws, which are rules about how money for elections can be used. As part of his agreement, he is not allowed to run for public office in Alabama ever again.

Early Life and Education

Robert Bentley was born in Columbiana, Alabama. His parents did not finish high school, and his family did not have a lot of money. At one point, they lived in a house without electricity or running water.

Bentley was a very good student. In high school, he was on a state champion debate team and was elected student body president. He graduated at the top of his class.

He went to the University of Alabama, where he studied Chemistry and Biology. He finished his degree in only three years. After college, he went to the University of Alabama School of Medicine to become a doctor. While in medical school, he married Dianne Jones in 1965. He earned his M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) degree in 1968.

Military and Medical Career

In 1969, Bentley joined the United States Air Force as a captain. He worked as a medical officer at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina.

After leaving the military, Bentley completed special training in dermatology (the study of skin). He then opened his own dermatology office in Tuscaloosa. His business, Alabama Dermatology Associates, grew to become one of the largest dermatology practices in the southeastern United States. He was recognized by other doctors as one of the "Best Doctors in America."

Political Career

Before becoming governor, Bentley was involved in state politics. He was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2002 and was re-elected in 2006. In the state legislature, he focused on improving healthcare training and laws about organ donation.

Bentley believed in not raising taxes. He signed a promise called the "No New Taxes Pledge." In 2008, he was chosen to be a delegate for Mike Huckabee at the Republican National Convention.

Governor of Alabama (2011–2017)

Official campaign portrait, 2008

In 2010, Bentley ran for governor of Alabama. He won the Republican nomination after a close primary race. In the general election, he defeated the Democratic candidate, Ron Sparks, with nearly 58% of the vote. This was a very large victory for a Republican in Alabama at the time.

In 2014, Bentley was re-elected for a second term. He won with 63.6% of the vote, which was the largest percentage any Republican governor had received in modern Alabama history.

During his time as governor, Bentley was praised for his response to the deadly tornadoes that hit Alabama in 2011. He also supported more funding for pre-K education programs. In 2015, he played a key role in removing Confederate flags from the grounds of the State Capitol.

Controversy and Resignation

In 2016, Governor Bentley faced a major controversy. He was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a political advisor and using state resources to hide it. Bentley admitted to making mistakes but denied breaking any laws.

The situation led to an investigation by the state's Ethics Commission. In April 2017, the commission found that there was reason to believe Bentley had broken state ethics and campaign finance laws. The Alabama House of Representatives began the process of impeachment, which is a way for the legislature to remove a government official from office.

To avoid being impeached, Bentley resigned as governor on April 10, 2017. On the same day, he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges for breaking campaign finance rules. As part of his plea deal, he agreed to never hold public office in Alabama again. He was succeeded by Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey.

Personal Life

Bentley and his former wife, Dianne, have four sons and several grandchildren. They divorced in 2015 after 50 years of marriage.

Bentley was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, where he served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher. During the controversy in 2016, the church announced that he was no longer a member.

As governor, he served on the boards of trustees for Alabama's colleges and universities. He also helped create the Alabama Medical Education Consortium, which provides scholarships for medical training.

Electoral History

See also

In Spanish: Robert J. Bentley para niños