James C. Smith
Encyclopedia
James Cloudis Smith is an American
lawyer
. He served as Florida Attorney General
, Florida Secretary of State, and is current the Chairman of the Florida State University
Board of Trustees.
degree in Government
and Public Administration
from Florida State University
in 1962, and while in college he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega
fraternity. In addition he received his J.D.
from Stetson University College of Law in 1967. Also he served in the U.S. Army Reserves and earned the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
in 1979, succeeding Robert Shevin
, and he would go on to serve in this capacity until 1987. In 1986, he ran for Governor, but narrowly lost the Democratic runoff to liberal state Representative Steve Pajic. Later he would become a Republican and be appointed Florida Secretary of State in 1987, serving in that capicity until 1995. He ran for Governor in 1994, but lost the primary to Jeb Bush
.
After he completed his term as the Florida Secretary of State, he would go into private practice in Tallahassee, Florida
. He is currently a shareholder for Smith & Ballard and serves as Chairman of the Board at Florida State
.
When it was announced that U.S. Senator Mel Martinez
would resign from the Senate during the August 2009 recess, there was widespread speculation that Smith would be appointed to replace him, with the expectation that Smith would be a caretaker who would not seek reelection to a full term http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/kyc/article1025843.ece.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. He served as Florida Attorney General
Florida Attorney General
The Florida Attorney General is an elected cabinet official in the U.S. state of Florida. The attorney general serves as the chief legal officer of the state....
, Florida Secretary of State, and is current the Chairman of the Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
Board of Trustees.
Early years
Smith received his B.S.Bachelor 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...
degree in Government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
and Public Administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
from Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
in 1962, and while in college he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega is a secret American leadership and social fraternity.The Fraternity has more than 250 active and inactive chapters, more than 200,000 initiates, and over 7,000 active undergraduate members. The 200,000th member was initiated in early 2009...
fraternity. In addition he received his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Stetson University College of Law in 1967. Also he served in the U.S. Army Reserves and earned the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
Political career
Smith started out as a Democrat in his political career. He became Florida Attorney GeneralFlorida Attorney General
The Florida Attorney General is an elected cabinet official in the U.S. state of Florida. The attorney general serves as the chief legal officer of the state....
in 1979, succeeding Robert Shevin
Robert Shevin
Robert L. Shevin was the Florida Attorney General from 1971 until 1979 and a judge on the Florida Third District Court of Appeal.-Background:...
, and he would go on to serve in this capacity until 1987. In 1986, he ran for Governor, but narrowly lost the Democratic runoff to liberal state Representative Steve Pajic. Later he would become a Republican and be appointed Florida Secretary of State in 1987, serving in that capicity until 1995. He ran for Governor in 1994, but lost the primary to Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush
John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W...
.
After he completed his term as the Florida Secretary of State, he would go into private practice in Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
. He is currently a shareholder for Smith & Ballard and serves as Chairman of the Board at Florida State
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
.
When it was announced that U.S. Senator Mel Martinez
Mel Martinez
Melquíades Rafael Martínez Ruiz, usually known as Mel Martinez , is a former United States Senator from Florida and served as Chairman of the Republican Party from November 2006 until October 19, 2007, the first Latino to serve as chairman of a major party...
would resign from the Senate during the August 2009 recess, there was widespread speculation that Smith would be appointed to replace him, with the expectation that Smith would be a caretaker who would not seek reelection to a full term http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/kyc/article1025843.ece.