N. Leonard Smith

Len Smith honored for 50 years of coaching

N. Leonard "Len" Smith (born March 13, 1929 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - December 14, 2014) was an American politician from New Jersey. He was a 2006 independent candidate for the United States Senate, a former member of the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and a pro-life activist.[1]

Biography

Smith was born in Philadelphia on March 13, 1929. He graduated from Lower Camden County Regional High School in 1947 and LaSalle College in 1955.[2]

Smith served in the United States Army from February 1951 to February 1953, and served for nine months in Korea.

Smith is a retired public school teacher in History and English with 30 years of experience. He also has coached running (track and cross country) at the high school and college level for more than 50 years.

In 1956, Smith was elected to the Clementon Borough Council. In 1961, he was elected to the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders as a Republican for one term, where he served as Director of Revenue and Finance.[3]

After serving as a Freeholder in Camden County, Smith moved to Atlantic County and lived in Northfield for 38 years. While there, he was elected to the Northfield Board of Education. He moved within Atlantic County and resided in Hammonton.

In 1976, Smith was a candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate. He lost to David Norcross, who went on to lose to Harrison Williams in the general election.[4]

Smith was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Knights of Columbus, and the Northfield Historical Society.

Smith was a Roman Catholic and a widower. He and his wife of 45 years, the late Lois Smith (née Kinsley), raised 10 children. In 2002, Smith's family received the “Family of the Year” award from the Family Service Association for South Jersey.

Smith died on December 14, 2014, in Northfield.[5]

2006 campaign for U.S. Senate

Smith was the only pro-life candidate who ran for the U.S. Senate from New Jersey in 2006. He describes this as being his "major motivation" for being a candidate because Republican Thomas Kean, Jr. and Democrat Bob Menendez both support abortion rights.

Also, Smith supported the War on Terrorism and the Iraq War. Moreover, he supported veterans care and services. In addition, he supported cutting taxes, spending, and waste and favored balanced budgets.

During the senate campaign, New Jersey political pundit David P. Rebovich had written that Smith's presence in the race could divert conservative and pro-life votes from Kean that would otherwise go to Kean in the absence of a pro-life candidate being on the general election ballot. Smith was endorsed by New Jersey Right To Life Political Action Committee.

Smith finished sixth receiving 6,243 votes for 0.3% of the vote.

Activities in the Pro-Life movement

Smith has been very active in the Pro-Life movement. He served as Chairman of the Respect Life Committee for St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church in Northfield. He has coordinated transportation for the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. for Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland Counties and was the co-coordinator of the Atlantic County Life Chain.

References

  1. ↑ NJVoterInfo.org
  2. ↑ Hall Institute of Public Policy | New Jersey | Public Policy | Virtual Debate
  3. ↑ Camden County Government - 1964
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ Marino, Suzanne. "Leonard Smith, ‘luckiest man in the world,’ was teacher, coach to many", Shore News Today, December 20, 2014. Accessed September 11, 2015.
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