Rod Smith (politician)

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State Senator Rod Smith
State Senator Rod Smith

Rod Smith (born November 15, 1949) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Florida. A Democrat, Smith has been a member of the Florida Senate from Gainesville since 2001. Smith recently lost the Democratic nomination for governor of Florida in the 2006 election, to Jim Davis.

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[edit] Early life and education

Smith was born on November 15, 1949, in Southwest City, Missouri, just across the state line from his family's home in Oklahoma. Before he reached the age of two, Smith's family moved to Florida where they grew eggplant and green peppers. Smith attended public schools. He attended the University of Tulsa, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1971, and the University of Florida's College of Law graduating with a law degree in 1975.

[edit] Legal and political career

After joining the bar Smith worked for the Public Employees Relations Commission for two years, representing the state in labor law cases. After this time Smith returned Alachua County and went into private practice for 15 years. The St. Petersburg Times wrote that since that time Smith "crisscrossed Florida, representing an array of labor unions–police officers and firefighters, electrical workers, carpenters, painters and pipe fitters. He argued on behalf of large vegetable farmers and dairies and nurserymen. He won settlements against the likes of DuPont and, occasionally, represented criminal defendants...He established himself as a skillful litigator."[1]

In 1992, Smith was recruited by a group of sheriffs to seek the office of State Attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit. Smith was elected and during his first term successfully prosecuted serial killer Danny Rolling, the "Gainesville Ripper." Re-elected in 1996, Smith created the circuit's first special prosecutions unit, which dealt with crimes against women and children, and created an environmental crime unit.

Rod Smith at a Broward teachers rally
Rod Smith at a Broward teachers rally

Smith was elected to the Florida Senate in 2000, representing Florida's 14th Senate district, which included nine counties in northern Florida. While in the Senate, Smith served as as chair of the Agriculture Committee, as Vice Chair of the Criminal Justice and Justice Appropriations Committees, and as a member of the Communications and Public Utilities, Environmental Preservation, Rules and Calendar, and Ways and Means Committees, as well as the Legislative Budget Commission.

In the state Senate, Smith was noted for his work in crime-related areas, especially work on behalf of abused children, fight discrimination in housing, protect the privacy of crime victims, improve the state's crime prevention initiatives, protect a woman's right to choose, and reinforce homeland security. Smith "sponsored, and passed, legislation to prevent mentally retarded persons from being executed."[2] In 2006 he led the coalition that defeated Jeb Bush's plan to undermine the class size amendment and create unconstitutional private school vouchers.

Smith is a partner with the law firm of Avera & Smith and also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Florida's Levin College of Law where he teaches constitutional law and trial practice and supervises the prosecution clinic. He has also taught at Santa Fe Community College.

The Miami Herald summed up Smith's biography in this way, "He comes from a line of struggling farmers and saw public school as a way out. While in law school at the University of Florida, he juggled going to class with helping to run the family's cattle operation. He won respect from unions as a labor lawyer, got elected state attorney and went on to leadership posts in the Florida Senate." [3]

[edit] 2006 election

In January 2005, Smith announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for governor in the 2006 election. Smith ran against Tampa Congressman Jim Davis. A statewide poll by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, released on August 28, 2006, showed Smith eight point down against Davis. A poll from earlier in the year showed Davis ahead 25 to 9 percent.[4] Conversely, a July 27th Quinnipiac University poll showed Smith trailing Davis by 28%. However, this poll also revealed that 33% of Democrats were still undecided.

Late in May of 2006, U.S. Representatives Kendrick Meek and Allen Boyd broke with their fellow Florida Democratic House members to endorse Smith.[5] Smith has also been endorsed by former Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth and former state Sen. Tom Rossin, the 2002 Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor; state Sen. Dave Aronberg of Greenacres; the Palm Beach County State Attorney, Barry Krischer; and county Commissioner Addie Greene, among others.[6]. Co-chair of his campaing was former Governor Wayne Mixson.

U.S. Congressmen Allen Boyd and Kendrick Meek endorsing Rod Smith
U.S. Congressmen Allen Boyd and Kendrick Meek endorsing Rod Smith

In August 2006, the St. Petersburg Times endorsed Smith, stating that his opponent, "Davis has a solid record as an ethical, thoughtful state legislator and congressman who understands the challenges facing Florida. Smith combines the same grasp of those challenges with a more dynamic leadership style and a clearer, fresher record of building mainstream coalitions that can successfully carry the day on tough issues. That is what it will take for a Democrat to win in November and successfully govern in Tallahassee." [7]

At the same time, the Palm Beach Post endorsed Senator Smith, saying, "Rep. Davis would return to Tallahassee with good intentions. Sen. Smith would take office knowing how to get good things done." [8] In addition, the Lakeland Ledger endorsed Smith stating, "We believe Smith can appeal to a broader segment of the electorate -- that he can muster greater support in the Republican-leaning northern part of the state while still generating strong support in the urban areas of Central and South Florida." [9]

Later in the month, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel endorsed the Senator, noting that between Smith and Davis, "Smith's record is the more impressive of the two, and his familiarity with the Legislature and state government gives him the edge over Davis. Smith could literally win the November election and hit the ground running." [10]

Another paper to endorse Smith, The Gainesville Sun, had this to say, "Rod Smith is a superb orator, a skilled negotiator and ...a razor-sharp intellectual and a constitutional scholar who immerses himself in minutia of public policy making .... We think Rod Smith is the Democrat in this race who has the political capital to undo some of the damage that's been done to public education these past eight years, find the right balance between environmental protection and economic growth, protect Florida's fragile water resources and get a handle on the state's runaway health care costs without restricting access to quality care." [11]

On August 27, the Miami Herald endorsed Senator Smith, noting his record of bipartisanship and stating, "In 2006, the Democratic Party has its best chance since the days of the late Lawton Chiles to recapture the governor's office." [12]

However, Smith also met with some criticism. In August of 2006, Senator Smith came under attack for his close ties to agricultural interests. The Miami Herald wrote: "Sen. Smith has been the beneficiary of a million-dollar anti-Davis ad campaign by U.S. Sugar. Sen. Smith vows to remain independent. But it could prove difficult to keep a respectable distance from special interests if he becomes beholden to them for outsized political contributions."

Senator Smith was criticized for not condemning "smear" ads financed by US Sugar Inc. against his Democratic primary challenger. The Daytona Beach News-Journal (which endorses Smith) wrote: "What we find most disturbing is the response by state Sen. Rod Smith. Smith -- who railed against smear tactics by third-party groups during his senatorial campaigns -- has consistently failed to rebuke Florida's Working Families (Big Sugar's cover) for the ads and, when asked, only repeats some of the allegations against Davis. Smith should denounce them."

On September 5, 2006, Rod Smith lost to Jim Davis during the primary election.

[edit] Awards and honors

  • Florida Police Chiefs Association's Legislative Achievement Award (2002)–for efforts to improve public safety and fight crime
  • Voices of Children Foundation's MVP Leadership Award (2004)–for efforts on behalf of abused, abandoned and neglected children.
  • Florida AFL-CIO "Legislator of the Year"–efforts on behalf of organized labor

Smith was also named the "most effective Democrat in the Florida Senate" by the Miami Herald in 2003.

[edit] Beliefs

Senator Smith is generally regarded as a political moderate and has traditionally taken stances more conservative than the average Democat. In line with this, he has received an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA).[13] Still, during the first televised debate, Smith stated that he has, "no problem with a carefully defined assault weapons ban. We want to make sure we don't have weapons in the hands of people who aren't supposed to have them and we have tough laws to prevent that." [14] Smith has also stated he supports and is a principle architect of legislation requiring parental notification for minors seeking an abortion, but "would still leave an exception for the health and life of the mother." [15] Smith describes himself as pro-choice and his official website promises to, "veto any legislation that would allow the government more influence over a woman's personal and private decisions regarding her own body." [16]

Overall, both Smith and his Democratic primary opponent take many positions not generally associated with the Democratic Party. The latter (Davis) voted for the Iraq War and "also voted to ban flag-burning." [17] Both men agree on capital punishment and both agree on having only, as Davis put it, "some restrictions on assault weapons." [18]

[edit] Personal life

Smith and his wife, DeeDee, live on their farm in Alachua County. As reported in Tampa Bay Online Smith, "married Deidra 'DeeDee' Painter, a lawyer .... They have three kids, one together and one each from previous marriages." [19] DeeDee Smith graduated from law school at age 39 and is an attorney and advocate for child abuse victims. [20]

The senator's eldest son, "Jesse Smith, 25, campaigns often with his father." Smith's younger son, "Dylan, 19, a student of Mechanical Engineering, and his daughter, Alison Glover, 32, also travel frequently with their dad." The Smiths have a grandchild, Hannah Grace Lynn Glover, the daughter of Alison and her husband, the Rev. Graham Glover. The 15-month old is an, "ubiquitous presence on the campaign trail who can applaud and blow kisses to adoring audiences." [21]

[edit] External links


[edit] Sources

  1. ↑  Dennis, Brady. "Rod Smith." St. Petersburg Times. 7 July 2006.[22]
  2. ↑  Sun-Sentinel Editorial Board. "Governor." Sun-Sentinel 20 August 2006. [23]
  3. ↑  Reinhard, Beth. "Underdog candidates get a final chance to make their mark." Miami Herald. 26 August 2006. [24]
  4. ↑  Davis, Jennifer Krell. "Democratic Race In Dead Heat Says Florida Chamber Poll." "Florida Chamber of Commerce". 8 June 2006.[25]
  5. ↑ Smith, Adam C. "Jim Davis can't shake Rod Smith." St. Petersburg Times. 22 May 2006.[26]
  6. ↑  Crowley, Brian. "Local support for Smith grows." Palm Beach Post. 24 June 2006.
  7. ↑  Times Editorial Board. "Smith for Democrats." St. Petersburg Times. 12 August 2006. [27]
  8. ↑  "Democats: Smith." Palm Beach Post. 13 August 2006. [28]
  9. ↑  "Democrats: Smith for Governor." Lakeland Ledger 13 August 2006. [29]
  10. ↑  "Rod Smith, Democrat," The Gainesville Sun 20 August 2006. [30]
  11. ↑  "In 2006, the Democratic Party has its best chance since the days of..." Miami Herald 27 August 2006. [31]
  12. ↑  Bennett, George. "Smith says he can woo votes for Democrats." Palm Beach Post. 9 July 2006.
  13. ↑  Kleindienst, Linda. "Where Jim Davis and Rod Smith stand." Sun-Sentinel 24 August 2006. [32]
  14. ↑  Fechter, Michael. "Rural Route to the Top." TBO.com news. 8 August 2006.[[33]]
  15. ↑  Shah, Nirvi. "Gubernatorial candidates' wives toe the party." Palm Beach Post. 26 June 2006.
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