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Tom Smith (Pennsylvania politician)

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Tom Smith
Personal details
Born
Thomas Joel Smith

(1947-10-20)October 20, 1947
Kittanning, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedOctober 17, 2015(2015-10-17) (aged 67)
Shelocta, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (before 2011)
Republican (2011–2015)
SpouseSaundy Smith
Children7
WebsiteCampaign website at the Wayback Machine (archived November 1, 2012)

Thomas Joel Smith (October 20, 1947 – October 17, 2015) was an American politician and businessman from Pennsylvania. A Democrat for four decades before seeking elective office, Smith switched his registration in 2011 and ran for the United States Senate in the 2012 election as a Republican,[1][2] losing to the incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Casey Jr.

Life, education, and early career

Smith was born on October 20, 1947.[3] He grew up in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania and graduated from Elderton High School in 1965.[4] At 19, he decided to postpone college to run the family farm when his father was ill.[5] He also took over the family's school bus company.[6] The Smiths had three biological children, and later adopted four more children from Texas.[7]

Coal mining business career

Smith started work in a coal mine shortly after leaving school.[4] In 1989, he purchased and ran a coal mine, after raising the money by mortgaging his existing property. He ran the business for 20 years before selling it in 2010.[4] Smith said that his company was "mining more than a million tons of a coal" per year and employed over 100 people.[8]

Political career

Plumcreek local politics

Smith was involved in local politics as a Democrat, serving on the Plumcreek Township Board of Supervisors from 1970 to 1989, and was President of the Board from 1973 to 1978. In 1975, the Plumcreek board voted to increase the real estate tax rate from 6 to 8 mills. In 1977, the board created an income tax, and he voted for the "Local Tax enabling Act." In 1978, he voted for the creation of a 1% real estate transfer tax.[9]

He was a Democratic committeeman as late as 2010 and was a member of the party for four decades. "It's true I was a Democrat but I was conservative, so I really wasn't a Democrat," Smith says, noting that he then chaired a local chapter in the Tea Party movement.[2][10][11]

2012 U.S. Senate election

Main article: 2012 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

In August 2011, Smith entered the Republican race for United States Senate.[12] In the five-person primary, Smith was initially viewed as a long-shot due to Sam Rohrer's name recognition,[13] and the Pennsylvania Republican Party's endorsement of Steve Welch.[14] Smith spent nearly $3 million in the first three months of 2012 however,[15] and took a narrow lead in the polls leading up the primary.[16] Smith won the primary with nearly 40 percent of the vote; Rohrer finished a distant second with 22 percent of the vote.

He faced incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr. in the general election in November. Casey was first elected in 2006, defeating then-incumbent U.S. Senator Rick Santorum by 18 points, 59%–41%.

Following controversial comments about rape by Republican Representative Todd Akin, Smith was asked August 27, 2012 by the Pennsylvania Press Club, with regard to his no-exceptions anti-abortion stance, how he would tell a daughter or granddaughter who had been raped that she had to keep the pregnancy. Smith stated that he had been in a similar situation because his relative had become pregnant out of wedlock. Smith later stated that he was not equating the two situations, but that "a father's position" was similar.[17][18]

Smith lost in the general election to Casey, 54 to 45 percent.[19]

Political positions

On September 7, 2012, Smith released the full text of his five-point economic plan entitled, Restoring the American Dream.[20][21] The major points of his plan focused upon reducing federal spending and easing domestic energy production. Smith has continued to run television ads promoting his policy plan.[22]

Smith believed that life begins at conception, stating, "My stance is on record and its very simplistic: I'm pro-life, period", and he believed abortion should be banned with no exceptions, including in circumstances of rape and incest.[17][23][24][25][26]

Personal life

After graduation, he married his high school sweetheart. They lived in Armstrong County for several years with seven children.[4] His net worth was estimated at between $60 and $70 million.[27] Smith died at his home in Shelocta in 2015.[28]

References

  1. ^ "Tom Smith: Former Democratic Committeeman". 5 December 2011.
  2. ^ a b Senate candidates spar over conservative credentials; The Philadelphia Inquirer; April 4, 2012
  3. ^ "Thomas 'Tom' Joel Smith". Pennsylvania 2012 Election Center. The Washington Times. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d "Meet Tom". Tom Smith for Senate. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  5. ^ "Coal executive Tom Smith wins GOP primary race to challenge U.S. Sen. Casey".
  6. ^ "About the PLC".
  7. ^ Channels: Everyone would benefit if Sen. Casey would debate Tom Smith
  8. ^ "Tom Smith | NBC 10 Philadelphia". www.nbcphiladelphia.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
  9. ^ "Smith Tax Votes Play in Senate Campaign". 26 March 2012.
  10. ^ Infield, Tom (April 25, 2012). "Smith wins GOP Senate nod". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  11. ^ Gibson, Keegan (April 16, 2012). "Where's Tom Smith?". PoliticsPA. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  12. ^ Exclusive: Smith Hires Toomey Campaign Manager Mark Harris
  13. ^ Poll: Rohrer Leads Senate Field
  14. ^ Levy, Mark (January 29, 2012). "Pa. GOP endorses Welch to challenge Sen. Casey". Associated Press. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  15. ^ "Smith outspends, outraises Welch in US Senate race". Associated Press. April 13, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  16. ^ Franklin & Marshall College
  17. ^ a b Senate candidate Tom Smith tangled up over rape and abortion
  18. ^ Smith Makes Abortion Gaffe; Politics PA; August 28, 2012
  19. ^ Green, Joshua (November 6, 2012). "Obama Wins, Big Time". Business Week. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012.
  20. ^ Smith, Tom (September 25, 2012). "Restoring the American Dream." Smartvoter.org. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  21. ^ Wereschagin, Mike (September 19, 2012). "‘Simplicity is big key’ to Senate Candidate Smith’s Tax Plan." TribLive.com. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  22. ^ New Smith Ad Aims at Policy (Also Casey). Watch Video
  23. ^ "Tom Smith on Abortion".
  24. ^ "PA GOP Sen. Candidate says no Exception on Abortion | 90.5 WESA". Archived from the original on 2013-02-13. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
  25. ^ "Tom Smith's Rape Gaffe Offers Insight into Conservative Domination | PhillyNow | A blog about Philadelphia news, politics and culture by Philadelphia Weekly". Archived from the original on 2013-01-31. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
  26. ^ Tom Smith on Abortion; On the Issues; October 22, 2012
  27. ^ "Casey to Donors: Polls Have "Warning Signals"". 22 June 2012.
  28. ^ Associated Press (18 October 2015). "Tom Smith, conservative who ran for US Senate, dies at 67". The Washington Times.
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania
(Class 1)
2012 		Succeeded by
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