Rod Smith (politician)
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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 is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor of Florida in the 2006 election.
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.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."[#endnote_Privatepractice]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.
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 legislation to ban the execution of mentally retarded persons. 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 an attorney with the law firm of Avera & Avera 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,
2006 election
In January 2005, Smith announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for governor in the 2006 election. Smith is running against Tampa Congressman Jim Davis. A statewide poll by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, released on June 8, 2006, showed Smith one point down against Davis. A poll from earlier in the year showed Davis ahead 25 to 9 percent.[#endnote_Commercepoll]
Late in May of 2006, U.S. Representatives Kendrick Meek and Allen Boyd broke with their fellow Florida Democratic House members to endorse Smith.[#endnote_MeekBoyd] 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.[#endnote_Endorsements]
Platform
Smith has said that "in his first 100 days as governor" he would reverse Bush's One Florida education program, which repealed several affirmative action programs. Smith also has said he supports higher pay for public school teachers and a reduction in class sizes.[#endnote_OneFlorida]
- Education: Use $2.02 billion of the non-recurring state surplus for "K-12 school construction, technology enhancements, and infrastructure improvements." Smith would also double the current $100 per-teacher stipend for classroom supplies. Smith would also restore the Intangibles Tax on stock and bond holdings to raise teacher pay to the top 50% in the country.
- Environment: Supply $400 million to Everglades protection, effectively quadrupling the current fund.
- Homeowners Insurance: Eliminate the 6.8% statewide homeowners insurance surchage by using $527 million to pay down the Citizens Property Insurance deficit.
- Hurricanes: Allocate $500 million for Catastrophe Relief and push for the establishment of a national fund.
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
Personal life
Smith married Dee Dee Smith in 1967. She graduated from law school at age 39 and is an attorney and advocate for child abuse victims.[#endnote_DeeDeeSmith] Smith and his wife live on their farm in Alachua County. They have two sons, Jesse and Dylan Smith, and a daughter, Alison Glover. They have a grandchild, Hannah Grace Lynn Glover, the daughter of Alison and her husband, the Rev. Graham Glover.External links
- [Official campaign website]
- [Video of Rod Smith from Official campaign website]
- [Official State Senate Page]
- [Bio at the Democratic Governors Association]
- [Bio at Project Vote Smart]
- [Smith Supporters MySpace Group]
Sources
- ↑ Dennis, Brady. "Rod Smith." St. Petersburg Times. 7 July 2006.[link]
- ↑ Davis, Jennifer Krell. "Democratic Race In Dead Heat Says Florida Chamber Poll." "Florida Chamber of Commerce". 8 June 2006.[link]
- ↑ Smith, Adam C. "Jim Davis can't shake Rod Smith." St. Petersburg Times. 22 May 2006.[link]
- ↑ Crowley, Brian. "Local support for Smith grows." Palm Beach Post. 24 June 2006.
- ↑ Bennett, George. "Smith says he can woo votes for Democrats." Palm Beach Post. 9 July 2006.
- ↑ Shah, Nirvi. "Gubernatorial candidates' wives toe the party." Palm Beach Post. 26 June 2006.
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