Jeffrey C. Smith (born December 6, 1949) is an American attorney and politician who served as a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1992 to 2020.

Early life and education

Smith was born and raised in Columbus, Mississippi. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi State University and a Juris Doctor from the

University of Missouri School of Law The University of Missouri School of Law (Mizzou Law or MU Law) is the law school of the University of Missouri. It is located on the university's main campus in Columbia, forty minutes from the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City. The ...

Career

Smith served as a prosecutor for Lowndes County from 1980 to 1989. He was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in November 1991 and assumed office in January 1992. Smith switched from the Democratic Party to the Republicans on June 1, 2011, later explaining 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. Following

Speaker Speaker may refer to: Society and politics * Speaker (politics), the presiding officer in a legislative assembly * Public speaker, one who gives a speech or lecture * A person producing speech: the producer of a given utterance, especially: ** I ...

William McCoy's decision not to run for re-election in 2011, Smith had been 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 Barbour Haley Reeves Barbour (born October 22, 1947) is an American attorney, politician, and lobbyist who served as the 63rd governor of Mississippi from 2004 to 2012. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as chairman of the Republican ...

by a single vote. The House voted 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. In the end, however,

Philip Gunn Philip Anthony Gunn (born January 27, 1963) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Mississippi. A member of the Republican Party, Gunn is the Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives, and represents the 56th district. He has ...

was elected speaker without opposition.

Elections

2007

On November 6, 2007 Smith was re-elected in District 39. He defeated James Samuel in the Democratic primary election and ran unopposed in the general election.

2011

Smith was unopposed for re-election (as a Republican) in the 2011 election for Mississippi House of Representatives District 39. He defeated

Jack Larmour Jack may refer to: Places * Jack, Alabama, US, an unincorporated community * Jack, Missouri, US, an unincorporated community * Jack County, Texas, a county in Texas, USA People and fictional characters * Jack (given name), a male given name, ...

in the Republican primary on August 2, 2011. No Democratic candidates filed to run for election, and he was re-elected in general election on November 8, 2011.

Personal life

Smith is president of Swim Columbus and is a deacon of the First Baptist Church in Columbus. He is married to Laura Terrell and they have a son named Corky.

External links

Mississippi House Member Page

Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart

Biography from Project Vote Smart
* Campaign contributions
20092007200520031999

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Jeff Members of the Mississippi House of Representatives Mississippi lawyers Mississippi Republicans Mississippi Democrats 1949 births Living people People from Columbus, Mississippi 21st-century American politicians