| Shirley Smith | |
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| Member of the Ohio Senate from the 21st district |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | C.J. Prentiss |
| Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 10th district |
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| In office January 3, 1999-December 31, 2006 |
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| Preceded by | C.J. Prentiss |
| Succeeded by | Eugene Miller |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 29, 1950 Cleveland, Ohio |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Divorced |
| Residence | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
| Profession | Sales and Marketing |
| Religion | Baptist |
Shirley Smith is a Democratic member of the Ohio Senate, who has represented the 21st District since 2007. Smith also serves as assistant minority leader in the Senate. She was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1999 through 2006.
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Smith 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 nomination with 35.29% of the vote.[1] She won the general election against Republican Dominic Rini with 86.15% of the vote.[2] Smith won reelection in 2000 against Republican Ronnie Jones with 87.2% of the vote.[3]
In 2002, Smith again faced a primary challenge from four other Democrats, due to redistricting. However she again won the nomination with 43.66% of the vote.[4] She went unopposed in the general election. Smith again was unopposed for the 2004 general election. For the 126th General Assembly, Smith served as secretary of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC).
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 nomination with 45% of the votes.[5] She won the general election with 85.14% of the electorate. 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.[6]
In 2010, Smith won election to a second term in the Senate, defeating Republican Burrell Jackson with 84.4% of the vote.[7] She again is serving as assistant minority leader in the 129th General Assembly, and is a member of the Senate Rules Committee; Education; Energy and Public Utilities; Finance; Government Oversight and Reform (as ranking member); and Health, Human Services and Aging. She also serves on the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review and the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee; and the State Criminal Sentencing Commission.
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