Jeff Smith (Mississippi politician)
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Smith is a lawyer
and politician
currently serving as a Republican
member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
. He has represented the 39th District since 1992. Smith switched from the Democratic
Party to the Republicans on June 1, 2011. Smith told reporters that he decided to become a Republican because the Republicans had recruited a candidate to run against him in the upcoming election for House Speaker.
Smith earned his B.S. and J.D.
degrees from Mississippi State University
, and was a prosecutor
for Lowndes County
from 1980-1989.
s on the constitution
, judiciary
(committee B), public health
and human services, and ways and means.
by a single vote. The House will vote on a new speaker at the start of the 2012 session. A narrow margin of power for either party following the election could force lawmakers to form a coalition in order to elect a new speaker.
and ran unopposed in the general election
.
District 39. He defeated Jack Larmour in the Republican primary on August 2, 2011. No Democratic candidates filed to run for election. The general election takes place on November 8, 2011.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
currently serving as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
Mississippi House of Representatives
The Mississippi House of Representatives is the lower house of the Mississippi Legislature, the lawmaking body of the U.S. state of Mississippi....
. He has represented the 39th District since 1992. Smith switched from the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Party to the Republicans on June 1, 2011. Smith told reporters that he decided to become a Republican because the Republicans had recruited a candidate to run against him in the upcoming election for House Speaker.
Smith earned his B.S. and J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degrees from Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
, and was a prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
for Lowndes County
Lowndes County, Mississippi
As of the census of 2000, there were 61,586 people, 22,849 households, and 16,405 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 25,104 housing units at an average density of 50 per square mile...
from 1980-1989.
Committee assignments
Smith currently serves on the standing committeeStanding Committee
In the United States Congress, standing committees are permanent legislative panels established by the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate rules. . Because they have legislative jurisdiction, standing committees consider bills and issues and recommend measures for...
s on the constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
, judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
(committee B), public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
and human services, and ways and means.
2012 race for Speaker of the House
Following Speaker William McCoy's decision not to run for re-election in 2011, Smith is considered a possible frontrunner for the speakership. He lost the 2008 speaker election, in which he was supported by the Republicans, by some Democrats who (like Smith) have since bolted the party, and by Republican governor Haley BarbourHaley Barbour
Haley Reeves Barbour is an American Republican politician currently serving as the 63rd Governor of Mississippi. He gained a national spotlight in August 2005 after Mississippi was hit by Hurricane Katrina. Barbour won re-election as Governor in 2007...
by a single vote. The House will vote on a new speaker at the start of the 2012 session. A narrow margin of power for either party following the election could force lawmakers to form a coalition in order to elect a new speaker.
2007
On November 6, 2007 Smith was re-elected in District 39. He defeated James Samuel in the Democratic primary electionPrimary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
and ran unopposed in the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
.
2011
Smith is running for re-election (as a Republican) in the 2011 election for Mississippi House of RepresentativesMississippi House of Representatives
The Mississippi House of Representatives is the lower house of the Mississippi Legislature, the lawmaking body of the U.S. state of Mississippi....
District 39. He defeated Jack Larmour in the Republican primary on August 2, 2011. No Democratic candidates filed to run for election. The general election takes place on November 8, 2011.
External links
- Mississippi House Member Page
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions: 2009, 2007, 2005, 2003, 1999