Shirley Smith (politician)
Shirley A. Smith | |
---|---|
Member of the Ohio Senate from the 21st district | |
In office January 2, 2007 - November 30, 2014 | |
Preceded by | C. J. Prentiss |
Succeeded by | Sandra Williams |
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 10th district | |
In office January 3, 1999 - December 31, 2006 | |
Preceded by | C. J. Prentiss |
Succeeded by | Eugene Miller |
Personal details | |
Born | Cleveland, Ohio[1] | November 29, 1950
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Divorced (2 children) |
Residence | Cleveland, Ohio |
Alma mater | Cuyahoga Community College (A.A.) Cleveland State University (B.A.) |
Profession | Legislator |
Shirley A. Smith is a former state senator for the 21st District of the Ohio Senate. Previously, she was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives. She is a Democrat.
Life and career
Smith has worked in sales and marketing, and as a radio talk-show host for a major radio station in Cleveland, and has also served as an independent consultant for Coca-Cola Bottling Company.
When incumbent C. J. Prentiss decided to run for the Ohio Senate, Smith and four other Democrats sought to replace her in the 1998 primary election. Smith won the District 8 nomination with 35.29% of the vote.[2] She won the general election against Republican Dominic Rini with 86.15% of the vote.[3] Smith won reelection in District 8 in 2000 against Republican Ronnie Jones with 87.2% of the vote.[4]
In 2002, Smith again faced a primary challenge from four other Democrats, due to redistricting. However she won the District 10 nomination with 43.66% of the vote.[5] She went unopposed in the general election[6] and was unopposed for the 2004 general election.[7] For the 126th General Assembly, Smith served as secretary of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC).
Ohio Senate
In late 2005, Smith announced that she would run to succeed term-limited Prentiss in the Senate, along with Representatives Annie L. Key, Claudette Woodard and two other Democrats. While it was a contested primary, Smith defeated the opposition to take the District 21 nomination with 50.86% of the votes.[8] She won the general election with 85.34% of the electorate.[9] In the 127th General Assembly, Smith served as president of the OLBC.
Early in 2008, the Senate Democrats ousted Minority Leader Teresa Fedor and replaced her with Ray Miller, as well as Smith as assistant minority leader. With the beginning of the 128th General Assembly, the caucus retained Smith in her role as assistant minority leader under Capri Cafaro.
In 2010, Smith won election to a second term in the Senate, defeating Republican Burrell Jackson with 84.4% of the vote.[10]
Smith resigned a month prior to the end of her term.
Electoral history
Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Shirley Smith | 52,296 | 84.07% | Burrell Jackson | 9,908 | 15.93% | ||
2006 | Shirley Smith | 54,492 | 85.22% | Richard Norris | 9,448 | 14.78% |
Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | Shirley Smith | 26.174 | 100.00% | Unopposed | ||||
2002 | Shirley Smith | 14,908 | 100.00% | Unopposed | ||||
2000 | Shirley Smith | 26,947 | 87.20% | Ronnie Jones | 3,959 | 12.80% | ||
1998 | Shirley Smith | 18,969 | 86.15% | Dominic Rini | 3,049 | 13.85% |
Personal life
Smith is divorced with two children. She lives in Cleveland, but also owns property in South Euclid, Ohio.
References
- ^ http://www.congress.org/bio/id/6212
- ^ Taft, Robert II. "Ohio House of Representatives: May 3, 1998 Official Results". Columbus, Ohio: Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
- ^ Taft, Robert II. "Ohio House of Representatives: November 3, 1998". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
- ^ Blackwell, Kenneth. "Ohio House of Representatives: November 7, 2000". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
- ^ Blackwell, Kenneth. "Democratic State Representative Official Tabulation: May 7, 2002". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
- ^ Blackwell, Kenneth. "State Representative Official Tabulation: November 5, 2002". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ Blackwell, Kenneth. "Ohio House of Representatives: November 2, 2004". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ Blackwell, Kenneth. "Democratic Ohio Senate: May 6, 2006". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
- ^ Blackwell, Kenneth. "Ohio Senate: November 7, 2006". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
- ^ Brunner, Jennifer. "Ohio Senate: November 2, 2010". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
External links
- The Ohio Ladies' Gallery: Shirley Smith
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Shirley Smith (OH) profile
- Follow the Money - Shirley Smith
- 1950 births
- Living people
- African-American women in politics
- Cleveland State University alumni
- John F. Kennedy School of Government alumni
- Members of the Ohio House of Representatives
- Ohio state senators
- Politicians from Cleveland
- Women state legislators in Ohio
- African-American state legislators in Ohio
- 21st-century American politicians
- 21st-century women politicians