Rodney Warren Smith (born November 15, 1949) is an American politician from the US state of Florida. A Democrat, Smith was a Florida Senate member from Gainesville from 2001 to 2006. Smith ran for a Democratic nomination for Florida's governor in the 2006 election but lost to Congressman Jim Davis. In 2010, Smith was a Democratic candidate for Florida Lieutenant Governor Alex Sink as his team mate in his campaign for Florida's governor. From November 2010 to January 2013 Smith served as chairman of the Florida Democratic Party. In 2016, Smith re-run in the Florida Senate but was eventually defeated by Keith Perry, a Republican and former Country Representative.
Video Rod Smith (politician)
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, the Smith family moved to Florida, where they grew eggplant and green chili. Smith attended a public school. He attended the University of Tulsa, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1971. While at the University of Tulsa, he is a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He then attended the University of Florida College graduate with a law degree in 1975.
Maps Rod Smith (politician)
Legal and political career
Upon receipt at The Florida Bar, Smith worked for the Florida Public Employee Relations Commission for two years, representing the state in cases relating to labor law. After two years in Tallahassee, Smith returned to Alachua County and spent the next 15 years in private practice. The St. The Petersburg Times later wrote that, since then, Smith has been "miserable in Florida, representing various union officers and firefighters, electricians, carpenters, painters and plumbers, and he argues on behalf of farmers great vegetables and dairies and nurseries.He won settlements against people like DuPont and, sometimes, representing the criminal defendant... He proved himself to be a skilled litigator. " [2]
In 1992, Smith was recruited by a group of county sheriffs to find the State Attorney's office for the Florida Eighth Judicial Assembly. Smith was elected that same year and, during his first term, successfully sued serial killer Danny Rolling, "Gainesville Ripper." Re-elected in 1996, Smith created the first special prosecution unit on the circuit, which handles crimes against women and children, and creates environmental crime units.
In 2000, Smith was elected to the Florida Senate as a Democrat. He represents the 14th Senate district, which includes nine counties in northern Florida, centered around Gainesville and Ocala. While in the Senate, Smith serves as chair of the Agricultural Committee, as Vice Chairman of the Justice and Justice Criminal Justice Committee, and as a member of Public Communications and Utilities, Environmental Conservation, Rules and Calendars, and the Means and Means Committee, as well as the Legislative Budget Commission.
During his tenure in the Florida Senate, Smith was noted for his work on issues relating to criminal justice. He strengthens country's child abuse laws, combat discrimination in housing and works to protect the privacy of victims of crime. He also increased the prevention of state crime and domestic security initiatives. Smith "sponsored, and passed, legislation to prevent mentally retarded people from being executed." In 2006, he led a coalition that defeated Governor Jeb Bush's Plan to weaken a class size amendment approved by Florida voters and create a school voucher program.
Smith is a partner of law firm Avera & amp; Smith and also serves as a professor at the University of Florida's Levin College of Law where he teaches constitutional law and court practice and supervises prosecution clinics. She also teaches at Santa Fe Community College.
The Miami Herald concludes his biography of Smith in this way, "He comes from a struggling farmer's line and sees public school as a way out, while at law school at the University of Florida he conjures up the class by helping run operations cattle her family.He won the respect of the union as a labor lawyer, got the state attorney elected and proceeded to the leadership post in the Florida Senate. " [4]
election 2006
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 state poll by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, released on August 28, 2006, shows Smith eight points against Davis. A poll from the beginning of the year shows Davis forward 25 to 9 percent. [5] In contrast, Quinnipiac University poll on July 27 shows Smith left Davis by 28%. However, the poll also revealed that 33% of Democrats have still not decided.
In late May 2006, US Representatives Kendrick Meek and Allen Boyd severed ties with fellow Florida House Democrats to support Smith. Smith has also been supported by former Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth and former State Senator Tom Rossin, Democratic Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor; country Sen. Dave Aronberg from Greenacres; Palm Beach County State Attorney, Barry Krischer; and county commissioner Addie Greene, among others. [7] . Co-chair of his campaign is former Governor Wayne Mixson.
In August 2006, St. The St. Petersburg Times endorsed Smith, stating that his opponent, "Davis has a strong record as an ethical and wise state legislator and congressman who understands the challenges facing Florida." Smith combines the same understanding of the challenge with a more dynamic leadership style. clearer new records to build a mainstream coalition that can successfully bring the day on tough issues.That's what it takes for a Democrat to win in November and manage in Tallahassee. " [8]
At the same time, Palm Beach Post authorized Senator Smith, saying, "Rep. Davis will return to Tallahassee in good faith Senator Smith will take over the office to know how to do good things." [9] In addition, Lakeland Ledger authorizes Smith to state, "We believe Smith can appeal to a wider segment of voters - that it can garner greater support in the northern Republican state while still generating strong support in urban areas of Central and South Florida. " ]
Later that month, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel endorsed the Senator, noting that between Smith and Davis, "Smith's notes were the most impressive of both, and his familiarity with the Legislature and state government gave him the upper edge of Davis Smith can really win the November election and hit the ground running. " [11]
Another major newspaper to support Smith, The Gainesville Sun, said this, "Rod Smith is a great orator, skilled negotiator and... sharp intellectual and constitutional scholar who immerses himself in minutia public policy making.... We think Rod Smith is a Democrat in this race who has the political capital to undo some of the damage done to public education over the past eight years, finding the right balance between environmental protection and economic growth, protecting water resources Florida is fragile and gains control over state health care costs without limiting access to quality care. " [12]
On August 27, the Miami Herald approved Senator Smith, recorded a note on bipartisanship and stated, "In 2006, the Democratic Party had its best chance since the late Lawton Chiles to reclaim the governor's office." [13]
Smith was criticized by the media for his passive attitude toward the Florida sugar lobby and their attack on his main opponent. In August 2006, the Miami Herald wrote: "Senator Smith has benefited from a multimillion dollar anti-Davis advertising campaign by US Sugar Inc. Senator Smith vowed to remain independent, but it can prove difficult to keep a respectable distance from a special interest if he become attached to them for great political contributions. "The Daytona Beach News-Journal, which has supported Smith, added further criticism. "What we find most disturbing is the response by state Sen. Rod Smith.Smith, who railed against dirty tactics by third party groups during his state senate campaign, has consistently failed to denounce the Florida Working Family (an important front for Big Sugar interests "for advertising and, when asked, just repeat some of the charges against Davis.Smith must taunt them."
On September 5, 2006, Rod Smith lost his bid for a Democratic nomination to Jim Davis. Davis then lost the election to Republican Charlie Crist.
2010 elections
On August 17, 2010, Rod Smith was announced as a date for Alex Sink on a Democratic ticket to replace Crist, who chose to run for US Senate rather than re-elected as Governor. [14] On November 2nd, Sink/Smith tickets lost to Republican Scott/Carroll tickets by 1%.
2016 election
When the Florida Supreme Court ordered the withdrawal of the new state senate district in December 2015, District 8, a newly formed district consisting of Alachua County, Putnam County, and northern Marion County was opened. On March 1, 2016, Smith announced his campaign to seat against the third State Representative of the Republic at that time Keith Perry. On November 8th, Smith lost to Perry with 47.4% of the vote, a margin of 5.2%.
Florida Democratic Party
In November 2010 Smith was elected chairman of the Florida Democratic Party (FDP), replacing Karen Thurman who resigned on November 12, 2010 after midterm elections. Smith's term ended in January 2013 when he was replaced by Allison Tant.
Awards and honors
- Florida Federal Police Legislative Awards (2002) -to efforts to improve public safety and combat crime
- MVP Leadership Award from the Voice of Foundation (2004) -for efforts on behalf of abused, abandoned, neglected children.
- Florida AFL-CIO "Legislator of the Year" -take on behalf of organized labor
Smith was also named the "most effective Democrat in the Florida Senate" by the Miami Herald in 2003.
Confidence
Senator Smith is generally regarded as a moderate politician and has traditionally taken a more conservative stance than the Democratic average. For example, he has received an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA). [15] However, during the first televised debate on the 2006 Democratic primary, Smith stated that he was "not a problem with carefully determined bases of attack weapons." We want to make sure we do not have any weapons in the hands of people. people who should not have it and we have strict laws to prevent it. "Smith has stated that he supports, and is the ultimate architect of, legislation requiring parental notification for minors seeking an abortion but will "leave exceptions to maternal health and life." [17] Smith describes himself as a pro-choice and his official website promises, "veto any law that will allow the government to better influence a woman's personal and personal decisions concerning her own body." > [18]
During the time of the main governor of 2006, both Smith and his main Democratic opponents took many positions that were generally unrelated to the Democratic Party. The latter (Davis) voted for the Iraq War and "also voted to ban the burning of the flag." [19] Both men agree with the death penalty and both agree to have only, as Davis says, "some restrictions on assault weapons." [20]
Personal life
Smith and his wife, DeeDee, live in their fields in Alachua County. As reported in Tampa Bay Online, Smith, "married Deidra 'DeeDee' Painter, a lawyer.... They have three children, one together and each from a previous marriage." [22]
Smith has 1 daughter, Alison Glover, and 2 sons, Jesse Smith and Dylan Smith. He also has, in January 2018, four grandchildren. Two of Alison and her husband, Graham Glover, are named Hannah Grace and Graham, Jr., and two of Jesse and his wife Jan are named Norah Lucille and Charlotte Warren.
External links
- The Crude Deal: The Consensus Question (a documentary about the alleged rape of a stripper at a Florida University fraternity while Rod Smith is the State Attorney)
- Biography at Democratic Governor's Association
Source
- ^ Dennis, Brady. "Rod Smith." St. Petersburg Times . July 7, 2006. [23]
- ^ Sun-Sentinel Editorial Board. "Governor." Sun-Sentinel August 20, 2006. [24]
- ^ Reinhard, Beth. "The Underdog candidates get the last chance to make their mark." Miami Herald . August 26, 2006. [25]
- ^ Davis, Jennifer Krell. "Democratic Race in the Dead Heat Saying Florida Room Poll." "Florida Chamber of Commerce". June 8, 2006. [26] Smith, Adam C. "Jim Davis can not shake Rod Smith." Smith, Adam C. "Jim Davis can not rock Rod Smith." St. Petersburg Times . May 22, 2006. [27]
- ^ Crowley, Brian. "Local support for Smith is growing." Palm Beach Post . June 24, 2006.
- ^ Editorial Board of Times. "Smith for the Democrats." St. Petersburg Times . August 12, 2006. [28]
- ^ "Democrats: Smith." Palm Beach Post . August 13, 2006. [29]
- ^ "Democrats: Smith for the Governor." Lakeland Ledger August 13, 2006. [30]
- ^ "Rod Smith, Democrat," The Gainesville Sun August 20, 2006. [31]
- ^ "In 2006, the Democratic Party had its best chance since the time..." Miami Herald August 27 2006. [32]
- ^ Bennett, George. "Smith says he can seduce votes for the Democrats." Palm Beach Post . July 9, 2006.
- ^ Kleindienst, Linda. "Where Jim Davis and Rod Smith stood." Sun-Sentinel August 24, 2006. [33]
- ^ Fechter, Michael. "Rural Route to the Peak." TBO.com News. August 8, 2006. [34]
- ^ Shah, Nirvi. "The wife of the governor candidate put a foot on the party." Palm Beach Post. June 26, 2006.
- ^ Farrington, Brendan. "Sink taps Smith as a couple in Fla.Gov race." Miami Herald. August 17, 2010. [35]
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