Charlie Smithgall
Encyclopedia
Charles W. "Charlie" Smithgall (born September 20, 1945) is an American
politician
, pharmacist
and businessman. Smithgall served as the Mayor
of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
for two-terms from January 1998 until January 3, 2006. Smithgall, a Republican, lost his re-election bid for a third term to Democrat Rick Gray
in 2005.
In 2009, Smithgall, who was not a candidate for mayor at the time, received 227 write-in votes by in the mayoral primary election
by supporters of the former mayor. After consideration following his write-in primary victory, Smithgall announced his intention to accept the Republican write-in nomination and seek a third term as Mayor on June 26, 2009.
Gray won a second term in the 2009 mayoral election
, which took place on November 3, 2009.
from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, which is now known as the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
, in 1968.
Smithgall is the current owner of Smithgalls' Pharmacy, a family business
founded in 1916. The Smithgall family operated a second pharmacy
in Lancaster on Columbia Avenue until the store's closure in 2008.
Smithgall married his wife, Debbie Smithgall, in 1972. The couple have one daughter, Allison, who was born in 1979.
An enthusiast of the American Civil War
, Smithgall has been a Civil War re-enactor since 1961. He has worked as a consultant
for several documentaries and films on the Civil War, including the 1993 movie, Gettysburg, in which he also appeared on screen as an artillery
commander
, and the former History Channel series, Civil War Journal. Smithgall collects antique cannons, and owns approximately 40 cannons as of 2009.
Lancaster with the Park City Center
. He also served as a member of the Republican Committee of Lancaster County.
Charlie Smithgall was elected Mayor of Lancaster in 1997 after his predecessor, two-term Democrat Janice Stork, declined to run for a third term. He defeated the Democratic candidate, Jon Lyons, by 52 to 36 percent of the total vote. Smithgall was sworn into office in January 1998.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
and businessman. Smithgall served as the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
for two-terms from January 1998 until January 3, 2006. Smithgall, a Republican, lost his re-election bid for a third term to Democrat Rick Gray
Rick Gray
J. Richard "Rick" Gray is a lawyer and politician who has been mayor of Lancaster, Pennsylvania since January 3, 2006.-Personal life:Born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania his father's profession took his family to Harrisburg at a young age, where he attended school and graduated high school. His father...
in 2005.
In 2009, Smithgall, who was not a candidate for mayor at the time, received 227 write-in votes by in the mayoral primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
by supporters of the former mayor. After consideration following his write-in primary victory, Smithgall announced his intention to accept the Republican write-in nomination and seek a third term as Mayor on June 26, 2009.
Gray won a second term in the 2009 mayoral election
Lancaster, Pennsylvania mayoral election, 2009
An election for mayor of the City of Lancaster in Pennsylvania was held on November 3, 2009. Incumbent Mayor Rick Gray, a Democrat, defeated challenger Charles W. "Charlie" Smithgall, a Republican by 313 votes, out of 7,261 cast....
, which took place on November 3, 2009.
Personal life
Smithgall, who was born in Lancaster, graduated from J. P. McCaskey High School in 1963. He received a bachelor's of science degree in pharmacyPharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, which is now known as the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
University of the Sciences , officially known as University of the Sciences in Philadelphia , located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in pharmacy and a variety of other health-related disciplines.-History:The history of the University of the Sciences...
, in 1968.
Smithgall is the current owner of Smithgalls' Pharmacy, a family business
Family business
A family business is a business in which one or more members of one or more families have a significant ownership interest and significant commitments toward the business’ overall well-being....
founded in 1916. The Smithgall family operated a second pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
in Lancaster on Columbia Avenue until the store's closure in 2008.
Smithgall married his wife, Debbie Smithgall, in 1972. The couple have one daughter, Allison, who was born in 1979.
An enthusiast of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Smithgall has been a Civil War re-enactor since 1961. He has worked as a consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
for several documentaries and films on the Civil War, including the 1993 movie, Gettysburg, in which he also appeared on screen as an artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
, and the former History Channel series, Civil War Journal. Smithgall collects antique cannons, and owns approximately 40 cannons as of 2009.
Political career
Prior to becoming mayor of Lancaster, Smithgall was a member of the Northwest Neighborhood Association, which opposed a proposed trolley linking downtownDowntown
Downtown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
Lancaster with the Park City Center
Park City Center
Park City Center is a large shopping mall located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and is the largest enclosed shopping center in South Central Pennsylvania. It is situated at the intersection of U.S. Route 30 and Harrisburg Pike. The shape of the mall resembles a snowflake, with its stores occupying...
. He also served as a member of the Republican Committee of Lancaster County.
Charlie Smithgall was elected Mayor of Lancaster in 1997 after his predecessor, two-term Democrat Janice Stork, declined to run for a third term. He defeated the Democratic candidate, Jon Lyons, by 52 to 36 percent of the total vote. Smithgall was sworn into office in January 1998.