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Rod Smith (politician)
Encyclopedia
Rod Smith is an American politician
from the U.S. state
of Florida
. A Democrat
, Smith was a member of the Florida Senate
from Gainesville
from 2001 until 2006. Smith ran for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Florida in the 2006 election
but lost to Congressman Jim Davis. In 2010, Smith was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Florida
as the running mate of Alex Sink
in her campaign for Governor of Florida
. Since January 2011, Smith has served as chairman of the Florida Democratic Party
.
, 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. While at the University of Tulsa, he was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. He then attended the University of Florida's
College of Law
graduating with a law degree
in 1975.
Smith worked for the Florida Public Employees 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. Petersburg Times
later wrote that, since that time, Smith has "crisscrossed Florida, representing an array of labor unions
–police officer
s and firefighter
s, electrical workers
, carpenter
s, 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."
In 1992, Smith was recruited by a group of county sheriffs to seek the office of State Attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida. Smith was elected that same year 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.
In 2000, Smith was elected to the Florida Senate
as a Democrat. He represented the 14th Senate district, which included nine counties in northern Florida, centered around Gainesville and Ocala. While in the Senate, Smith served 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.
During his term in the Florida Senate, Smith was noted for his work on issues related to criminal justice. He strengthened the state's child abuse laws, fought discrimination in housing and worked to protect the privacy of crime victims. He also improved the state's crime prevention and homeland security initiatives. Smith "sponsored, and passed, legislation to prevent mentally retarded persons from being executed." In 2006, he led the coalition that defeated Governor Jeb Bush's plan to weaken Florida's voter-approved class size amendment and create a school voucher program.
Smith is a partner with the law firm
of Avera & Smith 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
.
The Miami Herald
summed up Smith's biography in this way, "He comes from a line of struggling farmers and saw public school as a way out. While in law school at the University of Florida, he juggled going to class with helping to run the family's cattle operation. He won respect from unions as a labor lawyer, got elected state attorney and went on to leadership posts in the Florida Senate."
Jim Davis. A statewide poll by the Florida Chamber of Commerce
, released on August 28, 2006, showed Smith eight point down against Davis. A poll from earlier in the year showed Davis ahead 25 to 9 percent. Conversely, a July 27 Quinnipiac University poll showed Smith trailing Davis by 28%. However, this poll also revealed that 33% of Democrats were still undecided.
Late in May 2006, U.S. Representatives Kendrick Meek
and Allen Boyd
broke with their fellow Florida Democratic House members to endorse Smith. 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.. The co-chair of his campaign was former Governor Wayne Mixson
.
In August 2006, the St. Petersburg Times
endorsed Smith, stating that his opponent, "Davis has a solid record as an ethical, thoughtful state legislator and congressman who understands the challenges facing Florida. Smith combines the same grasp of those challenges with a more dynamic leadership style and a clearer, fresher record of building mainstream coalitions that can successfully carry the day on tough issues. That is what it will take for a Democrat to win in November and successfully govern in Tallahassee."
At the same time, the Palm Beach Post endorsed Senator Smith, saying, "Rep. Davis would return to Tallahassee with good intentions. Sen. Smith would take office knowing how to get good things done." In addition, the Lakeland Ledger endorsed Smith stating, "We believe Smith can appeal to a broader segment of the electorate -- that he can muster greater support in the Republican-leaning northern part of the state while still generating strong support in the urban areas of Central and South Florida."
Later in the month, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel endorsed the Senator, noting that between Smith and Davis, "Smith's record is the more impressive of the two, and his familiarity with the Legislature and state government gives him the edge over Davis. Smith could literally win the November election and hit the ground running."
Another major newspaper to endorse Smith, The Gainesville Sun
, had this to say, "Rod Smith is a superb orator, a skilled negotiator and ...a razor-sharp intellectual and a constitutional scholar who immerses himself in minutia of public policy making .... We think Rod Smith is the Democrat in this race who has the political capital to undo some of the damage that's been done to public education these past eight years, find the right balance between environmental protection and economic growth, protect Florida's fragile water resources and get a handle on the state's runaway health care costs without restricting access to quality care."
On August 27, the Miami Herald
endorsed Senator Smith, noting his record of bipartisanship and stating, "In 2006, the Democratic Party has its best chance since the days of the late Lawton Chiles
to recapture the governor's office."
Smith was criticized by media outlets for his allegedly-passive attitude toward Florida's sugar lobby and their attacks on his primary opponent. In August 2006, the Miami Herald wrote: "Sen. Smith has been the beneficiary of a million-dollar anti-Davis ad campaign by U.S. Sugar Inc. Senator Smith vows to remain independent. But it could prove difficult to keep a respectable distance from special interests if he becomes beholden to them for outsized political contributions." The Daytona Beach News-Journal, which had endorsed Smith, added further criticism. "What we find most disturbing is the response by state Sen. Rod Smith. Smith, who railed against smear tactics by third-party groups during his state senate campaigns, has consistently failed to rebuke Florida's Working Families (a notable front for Big Sugar interests) for the ads and, when asked, only repeats some of the allegations against Davis. Smith should denounce them."
On September 5, 2006, Rod Smith lost his bid for the Democratic nomination to Jim Davis. Davis subsequently lost the election to then Republican Charlie Crist
.
on the Democratic ticket to succeed Crist, who chose to run for election to the U.S. Senate
rather than for re-election as Governor. On November 2, the Sink/Smith ticket lost to the Republican Scott/Carroll ticket by a 1% margin.
Smith was also named the "most effective Democrat in the Florida Senate" by the Miami Herald
in 2003.
and his official website promised to, "veto any legislation that would allow the government more influence over a woman's personal and private decisions regarding her own body." http://rodsmith2006.com/pages/on_the_issues/#womens
Over the course of the 2006 gubernatorial primary, both Smith and his Democratic primary opponent took many positions not generally associated with the Democratic Party
. The latter (Davis) voted for the Iraq War and "also voted to ban flag-burning." http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/15308254.htm Both men agreed on capital punishment
and both agreed on having only, as Davis put it, "some restrictions on assault weapons." http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-felxdemrail24xaug24,0,6347003.story?coll=sfla-news-florida
The senator's eldest son, "Jesse Smith, 29, campaigns often with his father." Smith's younger son, "Dylan, 23, a student of Law, and his daughter, Alison Glover, 36, also travel frequently with their dad." The Smiths have two grandchildren, Hannah Grace Lynn Glover and Graham Jr. (Gray), the children of Alison and her husband, the Rev. Graham Glover.
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. A Democrat
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...
, Smith was a member of the Florida Senate
Florida Senate
The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....
from Gainesville
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
from 2001 until 2006. Smith ran for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Florida in the 2006 election
Florida gubernatorial election, 2006
The 2006 Florida gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 2006. Governor Jeb Bush was term-limited, and could not run for re-election. Republican Charlie Crist, the state's Attorney General, won the election for Governor of Florida.-Democrats:...
but lost to Congressman Jim Davis. In 2010, Smith was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Florida
Lieutenant Governor of Florida
The Lieutenant Governor of Florida is a statewide elected office in the government of the U.S. state of Florida. According to the Florida Constitution, the lieutenant governor is elected to a four-year term congruent with that of the Governor of Florida, and succeeds to the office of Governor if it...
as the running mate of Alex Sink
Alex Sink
Adelaide "Alex" Sink is an American politician of the Democratic Party. Sink was the Chief Financial Officer for the state of Florida and treasurer on the board of trustees of the Florida State Board of Administration...
in her campaign for Governor of Florida
Florida gubernatorial election, 2010
The 2010 Florida gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Governor Charlie Crist chose not to run for a second term and instead ran for the Senate seat vacated by Mel Martinez. This resulted in an open race for Governor of Florida...
. Since January 2011, Smith has served as chairman of the Florida Democratic Party
Florida Democratic Party
The Florida Democratic Party is the official organization for Democrats in the state of Florida.-History:The Florida Democratic Party has historically dominated dodo Florida's state and local politics. Florida's Governor's Mansion was closed to Republicans from 1877 until 1967, when Claude R...
.
Early life and education
Smith was born on November 15, 1949, in Southwest CitySouthwest City, Missouri
Southwest City is a city in McDonald County, Missouri, United States. The population was 937 at the 2009 census, at which time it was a town. It is part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, just across the state line from his family's home in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. Before he reached the age of two, Smith's family moved to Florida, where they grew eggplant and green peppers
Bell pepper
Bell pepper, also known as sweet pepper or a pepper and capsicum , is a cultivar group of the species Capsicum annuum . Cultivars of the plant produce fruits in different colors, including red, yellow, orange and green. Bell peppers are sometimes grouped with less pungent pepper varieties as...
. Smith attended public schools. He attended the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
in 1971. While at the University of Tulsa, he was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. He then attended the University of Florida's
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
College of Law
Levin College of Law
The Fredric G. Levin College of Law is the law school of the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida.-History:The College of Law was founded in 1909. It was first housed in Thomas Hall, and then in Bryan Hall from 1914 to 1969...
graduating with a law degree
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...
in 1975.
Legal and political career
Following his admission to the Florida barThe Florida Bar
The Florida Bar is the integrated bar association for the state of Florida. It is the third largest such bar association in the United States. Its duties include the regulation and discipline of attorneys....
Smith worked for the Florida Public Employees Relations Commission for two years, representing the state in cases relating to labor law. After two years in Tallahassee, Smith returned to Alachua County
Alachua County, Florida
Alachua County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 227,120. Its county seat is Gainesville, Florida. Alachua County is the home of the University of Florida and is also known for its diverse culture, local music, and artisans...
and spent the next 15 years in private practice. The St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
later wrote that, since that time, Smith has "crisscrossed Florida, representing an array of labor unions
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
–police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
s and firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
s, electrical workers
Electrician
An electrician is a tradesman specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, stationary machines and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure. Electricians may also...
, carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
s, painters
Painter and decorator
A house painter and decorator is a tradesman responsible for the painting and decorating of buildings, and is also known as a decorator or house painter...
and pipe fitters. He argued on behalf of large vegetable farmers and dairies and nurserymen. He won settlements against the likes of DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
and, occasionally, represented criminal defendants...He established himself as a skillful litigator."
In 1992, Smith was recruited by a group of county sheriffs to seek the office of State Attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida. Smith was elected that same year and, during his first term, successfully prosecuted serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
Danny Rolling
Danny Rolling
Daniel Harold Rolling , also known as The Gainesville Ripper, was an American serial killer who murdered five students in Gainesville, Florida. Rolling later confessed to raping several of his victims, committing an additional 1989 triple homicide in Shreveport, Louisiana, and attempting to murder...
, 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
Environmental crime
Environmental crime can be broadly defined as illegal acts, which directly harmthe environment. International bodies such as the G8, Interpol, EU, UN Environment Programme and the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute have recognised the following environmental crimes:* Illegal...
unit.
In 2000, Smith was elected to the Florida Senate
Florida Senate
The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....
as a Democrat. He represented the 14th Senate district, which included nine counties in northern Florida, centered around Gainesville and Ocala. While in the Senate, Smith served 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.
During his term in the Florida Senate, Smith was noted for his work on issues related to criminal justice. He strengthened the state's child abuse laws, fought discrimination in housing and worked to protect the privacy of crime victims. He also improved the state's crime prevention and homeland security initiatives. Smith "sponsored, and passed, legislation to prevent mentally retarded persons from being executed." In 2006, he led the coalition that defeated Governor Jeb Bush's plan to weaken Florida's voter-approved class size amendment and create a school voucher program.
Smith is a partner with the law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
of Avera & Smith and also serves as an adjunct professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the University of Florida's Levin College of Law where he teaches constitutional law
Constitutional law
Constitutional law is the body of law which defines the relationship of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary....
and trial practice
Trial practice
Trial practice is an upper level course offered in most American law schools designed to teach future litigators the fine points of presenting a case to a judge and jury...
and supervises the prosecution clinic. He has also taught at Santa Fe Community College
Santa Fe Community College
Santa Fe Community College ' is a public two-year Community college located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The college offers more than 72 degrees and certificate programs and caters to the academic, career and personal-enrichment needs of local residents, businesses, government and public service...
.
The Miami Herald
The Miami Herald
The Miami Herald is a daily newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company headquartered on Biscayne Bay in the Omni district of Downtown Miami, Florida, United States...
summed up Smith's biography in this way, "He comes from a line of struggling farmers and saw public school as a way out. While in law school at the University of Florida, he juggled going to class with helping to run the family's cattle operation. He won respect from unions as a labor lawyer, got elected state attorney and went on to leadership posts in the Florida Senate."
2006 election
In January 2005, Smith announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Governor in the 2006 election. Smith ran against Tampa CongressmanUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Jim Davis. A statewide poll by the Florida Chamber of Commerce
Florida Chamber of Commerce
The Florida Chamber of Commerce is an organization devoted to the advocacy of private businesses in the state of Florida.This Chamber originated in 1912, and included its first continuing group in 1916, the Florida Tick Eradication Committee...
, released on August 28, 2006, showed Smith eight point down against Davis. A poll from earlier in the year showed Davis ahead 25 to 9 percent. Conversely, a July 27 Quinnipiac University poll showed Smith trailing Davis by 28%. However, this poll also revealed that 33% of Democrats were still undecided.
Late in May 2006, U.S. Representatives Kendrick Meek
Kendrick Meek
Kendrick Brett Meek is an American politician who was the U.S. Representative for from 2003 to 2011. He was the Democratic nominee in the 2010 Senate election for the seat of Mel Martinez, but he lost in a three way race to Republican Marco Rubio along with Independent Charlie Crist.-Early life,...
and Allen Boyd
Allen Boyd
Fred Allen Boyd Jr. is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1997 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He currently works for a lobbying firm, the Twenty-First Century Group.-Early life, education and career:...
broke with their fellow Florida Democratic House members to endorse Smith. Smith has also been endorsed by former Florida Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
Bob Butterworth
Bob Butterworth
Robert A. Butterworth is an American attorney and politician from the U.S. state of Florida.-Early life and career:Butterworth was born in Passaic, New Jersey, and moved to Florida with his family as a child. He received a degree in business administration from the University of Florida in 1965,...
and former state Sen. Tom Rossin, the 2002 Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor; state Sen. Dave Aronberg of Greenacres
Greenacres, Florida
Greenacres is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 27,569 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the estimated population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 32,019.-Geography:Greenacres is located at ....
; the Palm Beach County State Attorney, Barry Krischer; and county Commissioner Addie Greene, among others.. The co-chair of his campaign was former Governor Wayne Mixson
Wayne Mixson
John Wayne Mixson, better known as Wayne Mixson was the 39th Governor of the U.S. state of Florida. He assumed the office in January 1987 after Bob Graham stepped down to take his seat in the United States Senate, and served only three days until the governor-elect, Bob Martinez, was sworn in...
.
In August 2006, the St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
endorsed Smith, stating that his opponent, "Davis has a solid record as an ethical, thoughtful state legislator and congressman who understands the challenges facing Florida. Smith combines the same grasp of those challenges with a more dynamic leadership style and a clearer, fresher record of building mainstream coalitions that can successfully carry the day on tough issues. That is what it will take for a Democrat to win in November and successfully govern in Tallahassee."
At the same time, the Palm Beach Post endorsed Senator Smith, saying, "Rep. Davis would return to Tallahassee with good intentions. Sen. Smith would take office knowing how to get good things done." In addition, the Lakeland Ledger endorsed Smith stating, "We believe Smith can appeal to a broader segment of the electorate -- that he can muster greater support in the Republican-leaning northern part of the state while still generating strong support in the urban areas of Central and South Florida."
Later in the month, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel endorsed the Senator, noting that between Smith and Davis, "Smith's record is the more impressive of the two, and his familiarity with the Legislature and state government gives him the edge over Davis. Smith could literally win the November election and hit the ground running."
Another major newspaper to endorse Smith, The Gainesville Sun
The Gainesville Sun
The Gainesville Sun is a newspaper published daily in Gainesville, Florida, United States, covering the North-Central portion of the state. It is a part of the New York Times Regional Media Group. The paper is published by James E...
, had this to say, "Rod Smith is a superb orator, a skilled negotiator and ...a razor-sharp intellectual and a constitutional scholar who immerses himself in minutia of public policy making .... We think Rod Smith is the Democrat in this race who has the political capital to undo some of the damage that's been done to public education these past eight years, find the right balance between environmental protection and economic growth, protect Florida's fragile water resources and get a handle on the state's runaway health care costs without restricting access to quality care."
On August 27, the Miami Herald
The Miami Herald
The Miami Herald is a daily newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company headquartered on Biscayne Bay in the Omni district of Downtown Miami, Florida, United States...
endorsed Senator Smith, noting his record of bipartisanship and stating, "In 2006, the Democratic Party has its best chance since the days of the late Lawton Chiles
Lawton Chiles
Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. was an American politician from the US state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives , the Florida State Senate , the United States Senate , and as the 41st Governor of...
to recapture the governor's office."
Smith was criticized by media outlets for his allegedly-passive attitude toward Florida's sugar lobby and their attacks on his primary opponent. In August 2006, the Miami Herald wrote: "Sen. Smith has been the beneficiary of a million-dollar anti-Davis ad campaign by U.S. Sugar Inc. Senator Smith vows to remain independent. But it could prove difficult to keep a respectable distance from special interests if he becomes beholden to them for outsized political contributions." The Daytona Beach News-Journal, which had endorsed Smith, added further criticism. "What we find most disturbing is the response by state Sen. Rod Smith. Smith, who railed against smear tactics by third-party groups during his state senate campaigns, has consistently failed to rebuke Florida's Working Families (a notable front for Big Sugar interests) for the ads and, when asked, only repeats some of the allegations against Davis. Smith should denounce them."
On September 5, 2006, Rod Smith lost his bid for the Democratic nomination to Jim Davis. Davis subsequently lost the election to then Republican Charlie Crist
Charlie Crist
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr. is an American politician who was the 44th Governor of Florida. Prior to his election as governor, Crist previously served as Florida State Senator, Education Commissioner, and Attorney General...
.
2010 Election
On August 17, 2010, Rod Smith was announced as the running mate for Alex SinkAlex Sink
Adelaide "Alex" Sink is an American politician of the Democratic Party. Sink was the Chief Financial Officer for the state of Florida and treasurer on the board of trustees of the Florida State Board of Administration...
on the Democratic ticket to succeed Crist, who chose to run for election to the U.S. Senate
United States Senate election in Florida, 2010
-Polling:-Results:-Background:Upon Senator Martinez's announcement that he would not run for reelection, early speculation surrounded former Governor Jeb Bush. It was thought that if Bush decided to run, other potential Republican candidates would allow Bush to run uncontested...
rather than for re-election as Governor. On November 2, the Sink/Smith ticket lost to the Republican Scott/Carroll ticket by a 1% margin.
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-CIOFlorida AFL-CIOFlorida AFL-CIO is a statewide federation of labor unions in the state of Florida affiliated with the AFL-CIO. The federation's membership consists of about 450 local unions from 41 international unions...
"Legislator of the Year"–efforts on behalf of organized labor
Smith was also named the "most effective Democrat in the Florida Senate" by the Miami Herald
The Miami Herald
The Miami Herald is a daily newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company headquartered on Biscayne Bay in the Omni district of Downtown Miami, Florida, United States...
in 2003.
Beliefs
Senator Smith is generally regarded as a political moderate and has traditionally taken stances more conservative than the average Democrat. For example, he has received an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA).http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=WFL51166&type=category&category=Gun%2BIssues&go.x=18&go.y=2 Still, during the first televised debate of the 2006 Democratic primary, Smith stated that he had, "no problem with a carefully defined assault weapons ban. We want to make sure we don't have weapons in the hands of people who aren't supposed to have them and we have tough laws to prevent that." Smith has stated that he supports, and is a principle architect of, legislation requiring parental notification for minors seeking an abortion but would "leave an exception for the health and life of the mother." http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/6297.article Smith describes himself as pro-choicePro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
and his official website promised to, "veto any legislation that would allow the government more influence over a woman's personal and private decisions regarding her own body." http://rodsmith2006.com/pages/on_the_issues/#womens
Over the course of the 2006 gubernatorial primary, both Smith and his Democratic primary opponent took many positions not generally associated with the Democratic Party
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...
. The latter (Davis) voted for the Iraq War and "also voted to ban flag-burning." http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/15308254.htm Both men agreed on capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
and both agreed on having only, as Davis put it, "some restrictions on assault weapons." http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-felxdemrail24xaug24,0,6347003.story?coll=sfla-news-florida
Personal life
Smith and his wife, DeeDee, live on their farm in Alachua County. As reported in Tampa Bay Online Smith, "married Deidra 'DeeDee' Painter, a lawyer .... They have three kids, one together and one each from previous marriages." DeeDee Smith graduated from law school at age 39 and is an attorney and advocate for child abuse victims.The senator's eldest son, "Jesse Smith, 29, campaigns often with his father." Smith's younger son, "Dylan, 23, a student of Law, and his daughter, Alison Glover, 36, also travel frequently with their dad." The Smiths have two grandchildren, Hannah Grace Lynn Glover and Graham Jr. (Gray), the children of Alison and her husband, the Rev. Graham Glover.
External links
- Raw Deal: A Question of Consent (documentary about an alleged rape of a stripper at a University of Florida fraternity house while Rod Smith was State Attorney)
- Biography at the Democratic Governors Association
Sources
- Dennis, Brady. "Rod Smith." St. Petersburg Times. 7 July 2006.http://www.sptimes.com/2006/07/07/State/Rod_Smith_.shtml
- Sun-Sentinel Editorial Board. "Governor." Sun-Sentinel 20 August 2006. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/editorial/sfl-editfloridagovraceaug20,0,5115803.story
- Reinhard, Beth. "Underdog candidates get a final chance to make their mark." Miami Herald. 26 August 2006. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/columnists/15365596.htm
- Davis, Jennifer Krell. "Democratic Race In Dead Heat Says Florida Chamber Poll." "Florida Chamber of Commerce". 8 June 2006.http://www.flchamber.com/flcchw/hw.dll?page&file=nr060608
- Smith, Adam C. "Jim Davis can't shake Rod Smith." St. Petersburg Times. 22 May 2006.http://www.sptimes.com/2006/05/22/State/Jim_Davis_can_t_shake.shtml
- Crowley, Brian. "Local support for Smith grows." Palm Beach Post. 24 June 2006.
- Times Editorial Board. "Smith for Democrats." St. Petersburg Times. 12 August 2006. http://www.sptimes.com/2006/08/12/Opinion/Smith_for_the_Democra.shtml
- "Democrats: Smith." Palm Beach Post. 13 August 2006. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2006/08/13/a2e_demgov_endorse_0813.html
- "Democrats: Smith for Governor." Lakeland Ledger 13 August 2006. http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060813/NEWS/608130368/1036/EDIT
- "Rod Smith, Democrat," The Gainesville Sun 20 August 2006. http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060820/EDITORIALS/208200326&SearchID=73254469622512
- "In 2006, the Democratic Party has its best chance since the days of..." Miami Herald 27 August 2006. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/15362161.htm
- Bennett, George. "Smith says he can woo votes for Democrats." Palm Beach Post. 9 July 2006.
- Kleindienst, Linda. "Where Jim Davis and Rod Smith stand." Sun-Sentinel 24 August 2006. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-felxdemrail24xaug24,0,6347003.story?coll=sfla-news-florida
- Fechter, Michael. "Rural Route to the Top." TBO.com news. 8 August 2006.http://www.tbo.com/news/politics/MGBLOFCQLQE.html
- Shah, Nirvi. "Gubernatorial candidates' wives toe the party." Palm Beach Post. 26 June 2006.
- Farrington, Brendan. "Sink taps Smith as running mate in Fla. Gov's race." Miami Herald. 17 August 2010. http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/17/1780203/sink-taps-smith-as-running-mate.html