Jeff Smith (Missouri politician)

Infobox_State_Senator


name=Jeff Smith


state_senate=Missouri
state=Missouri
district=4th
term=2007 -
preceded=
succeeded=Incumbent
date of birth=birth date and age|1973|12|09
place of birth=St. Louis, Missouri
date of death=
place of death=
spouse=
profession=
religion=
party=Democratic|

Jeff Smith is a Democratic member of the Missouri Senate, representing the 4th district since 2007. His district covers the western portion of the City of St. Louis.

Smith was raised in the St. Louis suburb of Olivette, Missouri and graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a double major in African-American Studies and political science. He received his MA and PhD in political science from Washington University in St. Louis.cite web|accessdate=
url= http://www.jeffsmith2006.com/index.php?page_id=2
title=About Jeff Smith
publisher=Jeff Smith 2006 Missouri State Senate campaign site]

Smith has taught at Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and Dartmouth College and won the 2002 Washington University Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence. In 2001, Smith co-founded the Confluence Academies, a group of charter schools in North St. Louis focusing on math and science education.cite web|accessdate=
url= http://www.jeffsmith2006.com/index.php?page_id=2
title=About Jeff Smith
publisher=Jeff Smith 2006 Missouri State Senate campaign site]

In 2004, Smith was a candidate in the crowded Democratic primary election for the U.S. House of Representatives to replace retiring Congressman Dick Gephardt. Beginning as an unknown, Smith finished second in the ten-candidate field, narrowly losing to Russ Carnahan. [cite web
url=http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/raceresults.asp?eid=116&oid=29211&arc=1
title=Election Night Reporting: U.S. Representative - District 3 - Summary
work=Official Election Returns, State of Missouri Primary Election, Tuesday, August 03, 2004
publisher=State of Missouri] His campaign was widely recognized as an example of successful grassroots organizing. It was the subject of the documentary film "Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?," which won the 2006 audience choice award at the Silverdocs film festival. [cite web|accessdate=
url=http://www.mrsmithmovie.com/
title="Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?" website] In February 2007, the documentary aired on the award-winning PBS series "Independent Lens".cite web
accessdate=2008-08-31
url=http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/mrsmith/
title=Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?
work="Independent Lens"
publisher=PBS]

A year after his unsuccessful Congressional campaign, Smith announced his intention to seek the Missouri State Senate seat being vacated by Pat Dougherty. The race was heavily contested and other candidates included State Representatives Yaphett El-Amin, and Amber Boykins, former State Representative Derio Gambaro, and former St. Louis Alderman Kenny Jones. Smith won the primary election on August 8, 2006, and was unopposed in the general election. [cite web|accessdate=
url=http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/raceresults.asp?eid=173&oid=39286&arc=
title=Election Night Reporting: State Senator - District 4 - Summary
work= Official Election Returns, State of Missouri Primary Election - Primary Election, Tuesday, August 08, 2006
publisher=State of Missouri]

ee also

*List of current Missouri State Senators

References

External links

* [http://www.senate.mo.gov/07info/members/mem04.htm Missouri Senate - Jeff Smith] "'official government website
* [http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=39155 Project Vote Smart - Jeff Smith (MO)] profile
*Follow the Money - Jeff Smith
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200624&c=416510 2006] campaign contributions
* [http://www.jeffsmith2006.com/ Jeff Smith for Missouri Senate] official campaign website
* [http://publicbroadcasting.net/kwmu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=950399&sectionID=794 KWMU 2006 election guide]
* [http://publicbroadcasting.net/kwmu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=952197&sectionID=794 KWMU election night coverage]
* [http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/mrsmith/ "CAN MR. SMITH GET TO WASHINGTON ANYMORE?"] site for Independent Lens on PBS