Jeff Smith (Mississippi politician)


Jeffrey C. Smith is a lawyer and a 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.

Committee assignments

Smith currently serves on the standing committees on the constitution, judiciary, public 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 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 have since bolted the party; and by Republican governor Haley Barbour 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 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 in the 2011 election for Mississippi House of Representatives District 39. He defeated Jack Larmour 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.

Campaign donors

2007

In 2007, Smith collected $127,267 in donations.

Personal life

He is President of Swim Columbus and is a Deacon of the First Baptist Church in Columbus. He is married to the former Laura Terrell and they have a son named Corky.