Jeff Smith (Mississippi politician)
 | This article needs to be updated. (January 2012) |
Jeff Smith | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 39th district | |
| Assumed office 1992 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 6, 1949 Columbus, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Mississippi State University |
| Profession | lawyer, prosecutor |
Jeffrey C. Smith (born December 6, 1949) is a lawyer and a politician currently serving as a Republican member of the Mississippi House of Representatives. He has represented the 39th District since 1992. Smith switched from the Democratic Party to the Republicans on June 1, 2011. Smith told reporters that he decided to become a Republican because the Republicans had recruited a candidate to run against him in the upcoming election for House Speaker.[1]
Smith earned his B.S. and J.D. degrees from Mississippi State University, and was a prosecutor for Lowndes County from 1980-1989.[2]
Committee assignments
Smith currently serves on the standing committees on the constitution, judiciary (committee B), public health and human services, and ways and means.
2012 race for Speaker of the House
Following Speaker William McCoy's decision not to run for re-election in 2011, Smith had been considered a possible frontrunner for the speakership. He lost the 2008 speaker election, in which he was supported by the Republicans; by some Democrats who (like Smith) have since bolted the party; and by Republican governor Haley Barbour by a single vote.[3] The House voted on a new speaker at the start of the 2012 session. A narrow margin of power for either party following the election could force lawmakers to form a coalition in order to elect a new speaker.[4] In the end, however, Philip Gunn was elected speaker without opposition.[5]
Elections
2007
On November 6, 2007 Smith was re-elected in District 39. He defeated James Samuel in the Democratic primary election and ran unopposed in the general election.
2011
Smith was unopposed for re-election (as a Republican) in the 2011 election for Mississippi House of Representatives District 39. He defeated Jack Larmour in the Republican primary on August 2, 2011.[6] No Democratic candidates filed to run for election,[7] and he was re-elected in general election on November 8, 2011.[8]
Campaign donors
2007
In 2007, Smith collected $127,267 in donations.[9]
Personal life
He is President of Swim Columbus and is a Deacon of the First Baptist Church in Columbus.[10] He is married to the former Laura Terrell and they have a son named Corky.
External links
- Mississippi House Member Page
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions: 2009, 2007, 2005, 2003, 1999
References
- ^ Fox News, House Speaker Candidate Smith Switches to GOP, 1 June 2011
- ^ Project Vote Smart - Rep. Smith
- ^ "McCoy wins 2nd term as Miss. House speaker over GOP vote". The Natchez Democrat. Associated Press. January 9, 2008. Retrieved December 18, 2010.
- ^ Race for House speaker begins in earnest," August 3, 2011
- ^ Pettus, Emily Wagster (Associated Press). "Brown chosen as No. 2 in Senate" Columbus Dispatch January 3, 2012
- ^ Associated Press, "Mississippi Primary Election Results," accessed August 3, 2011.
- ^ Mississippi Secretary of State, 2011 Official Primary Candidate List
- ^ official 2011 election results.
- ^ http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=94824
- ^ http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/members/house/smith_(39th).xml