John R. Smith (Louisiana politician)
Encyclopedia
John R. Smith is a businessman from Leesville
, Louisiana
, who is a Republican
member of the Louisiana State Senate
from District 30, which encompasses Vernon
, Beauregard
, and Calcasieu
parishes in western Louisiana
.
In 2010, Smith switched from Democrat
to GOP
affiliation.
and Master of Business Administration
degrees from the Roman Catholic Loyola University
in New Orleans
. He is a member of the Leesville Lions Club, the Masonic lodge, the Shriners
, Louisiana Cattleman's Association, Ducks Unlimited
, and the Leesville/Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce
.
Smith is also a former member of the Vernon Parish Police Jury and was the jury president from 1980 to 1983. Those same years, he also served on the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee.
Smith and his wife, the former Pamela Arnondin, have a son and a daughter, Bradford and Payton Smith.
and U.S. representative, and a future Democratic state party chairman. Leach led in the balloting with 10,219 votes (39.4 percent); Smith trailed with 9,227 votes (35.6 percent), and a third candidate, Terry Fowler, polled a critical 6,492 ballots (25 percent).In the general election
on November 17, Smith prevailed, 9,326 (51.5 percent) to Leach's 8,777 (48.5 percent).
From 1988 to 2008, Smith served in the Louisiana House of Representatives
from District 30 (same number as the Senate district). He was unopposed in his first bid for the House in 1987, when the incumbent Buddy Leach instead ran unsuccessfully for Louisiana state treasurer, having been defeated by Mary Landrieu
. In his 1991 campaign for House reelection, Smith prevailed outright in the primary with 7,773 votes (57.6 percent) over two opponents, Democrat Thomas H. "Tommy" Ford, who received 3,868 votes (28.7 percent) and Republican Sam Townsend, who trailed with 1,858 votes (13.8 percent).Thereafter, Smith was again unopposed for the House in 1995, 1999, and 2003.
Smith chairs the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs Committee. He also serves on (1) Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development, (2) Natural Resources. He is a member of on the Incentive Program Review Subcommittee of the Joint Budget Committee.In 2010, Smith voted 67 percent of the time with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
and 90 percent with the conservative Louisiana Family Forum
. In 2009, he was rated 100 percent by the Louisiana Right to Life
Federation.
, in the general election held on November 19, 2011. Smith carried the backing of Governor Bobby Jindal
. In the primary held on October 22, 2011, Smith led a three-candidate field with 9,808 votes (45.6 percent). Cain followed with 6,343 (29.5 percent). Democrat Terry Fowler held the remaining but critical 5,370 votes (25 percent).
Leesville, Louisiana
Leesville is a city in and the parish seat of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 6,753 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Fort Polk South Micropolitan Statistical Area. The city is home to the Fort Polk U.S. Army installation...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, who is 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 Louisiana State Senate
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from District 30, which encompasses Vernon
Vernon Parish, Louisiana
Vernon Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Leesville and as of 2000, the population was 52,531....
, Beauregard
Beauregard Parish, Louisiana
Beauregard Parish [p] is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Beauregard Parish was formed on 1 January 1913. The parish seat is DeRidder. As of 2000, the population was 32,986. Beauregard Parish is part of the DeRidder Micropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Fort Polk...
, and Calcasieu
Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Calcasieu Parish[p] is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Lake Charles. As of 2010, the parish population was 192,768...
parishes in western Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
.
In 2010, Smith switched from 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...
to GOP
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...
affiliation.
Background
Smith received both his Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
and Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
degrees from the Roman Catholic Loyola University
Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...
in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. He is a member of the Leesville Lions Club, the Masonic lodge, the Shriners
Shriners
The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, also commonly known as Shriners and abbreviated A.A.O.N.M.S., established in 1870, is an appendant body to Freemasonry, based in the United States...
, Louisiana Cattleman's Association, Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of wetlands and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, other wildlife, and people. It currently has approximately 780,000 members, mostly in the United States and Canada.-Introduction:Ducks Unlimited was...
, and the Leesville/Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
.
Smith is also a former member of the Vernon Parish Police Jury and was the jury president from 1980 to 1983. Those same years, he also served on the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee.
Smith and his wife, the former Pamela Arnondin, have a son and a daughter, Bradford and Payton Smith.
Legislative matters
In the 2007 state Senate primary, Smith, still a Democrat, faced competition from two other Democrats, including Buddy Leach, a former state representativeLouisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
and U.S. representative, and a future Democratic state party chairman. Leach led in the balloting with 10,219 votes (39.4 percent); Smith trailed with 9,227 votes (35.6 percent), and a third candidate, Terry Fowler, polled a critical 6,492 ballots (25 percent).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...
on November 17, Smith prevailed, 9,326 (51.5 percent) to Leach's 8,777 (48.5 percent).
From 1988 to 2008, Smith served in the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from District 30 (same number as the Senate district). He was unopposed in his first bid for the House in 1987, when the incumbent Buddy Leach instead ran unsuccessfully for Louisiana state treasurer, having been defeated by Mary Landrieu
Mary Landrieu
Mary Loretta Landrieu is the senior United States Senator from the State of Louisiana and a member of the Democratic Party.Born in Arlington, Virginia, Landrieu was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana...
. In his 1991 campaign for House reelection, Smith prevailed outright in the primary with 7,773 votes (57.6 percent) over two opponents, Democrat Thomas H. "Tommy" Ford, who received 3,868 votes (28.7 percent) and Republican Sam Townsend, who trailed with 1,858 votes (13.8 percent).Thereafter, Smith was again unopposed for the House in 1995, 1999, and 2003.
Smith chairs the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs Committee. He also serves on (1) Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development, (2) Natural Resources. He is a member of on the Incentive Program Review Subcommittee of the Joint Budget Committee.In 2010, Smith voted 67 percent of the time with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, known by the acronym LABI, is the largest and most successful business lobbying group in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It was founded in Baton Rouge in 1976, when Louisiana adopted a new right-to-work law during the administration of Democratic...
and 90 percent with the conservative Louisiana Family Forum
Louisiana Family Forum
Louisiana Family Forum is a social conservative non-profit advocacy group based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The organization supports Louisiana's covenant marriage law and opposes abortion and same-sex marriage...
. In 2009, he was rated 100 percent by the Louisiana Right to Life
Right to life
Right to life is a phrase that describes the belief that a human being has an essential right to live, particularly that a human being has the right not to be killed by another human being...
Federation.
2011 election
In his bid for a second term in the state Senate, Smith defeated his predecessor in the office, James David CainJames David Cain
James David Cain, Sr. is a retired farmer and rancher from the Dry Creek community in eastern Beauregard Parish, who is a former Republican member of the Louisiana State Senate....
, in the general election held on November 19, 2011. Smith carried the backing of Governor Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal
Piyush "Bobby" Jindal is the 55th and current Governor of Louisiana and formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party....
. In the primary held on October 22, 2011, Smith led a three-candidate field with 9,808 votes (45.6 percent). Cain followed with 6,343 (29.5 percent). Democrat Terry Fowler held the remaining but critical 5,370 votes (25 percent).