Jason Smith 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 Missouri House of Representatives

Missouri House of Representatives

The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...

. He represents the 150th District, which encompasses parts of Crawford

Crawford County, Missouri

-State:In the Missouri House of Representatives, most of Crawford County is included within the 150th Legislative District and is currently represented by State Representative Jason T. Smith . In 2008, Smith defeated Democratic challenger James D. Ellis 69.97-30.03 percent; the Crawford County...

, Dent

Dent County, Missouri

Dent County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 14,927. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 15,119. The largest city and county seat is Salem...

, Phelps

Phelps County, Missouri

Phelps County is a county located in south-central Missouri in the United States.According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it includes the mean center of U.S. population in 2000. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 39,825. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 42,205....

 and Reynolds

Reynolds County, Missouri

Reynolds County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the Ozark Foothills Region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 6,689. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 6,388. Its county seat is Centerville...

 counties. Smith also serves as the Majority Whip

Whip (politics)

A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...

 during the 96th Missouri General Assembly

Missouri General Assembly

The Missouri General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Missouri. The bicameral General Assembly is composed of a 34-member Senate, and a 163-member House of Representatives. Members of both houses of the General Assembly are subject to term limits...

.

Personal history

Jason Smith was born in St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...

 and grew up near Salem, Missouri

Salem, Missouri

-External links:* * Historic maps of Salem in the at the University of Missouri...

 as a fourth-generation family farmer. After graduating from Salem High School in 1998 Smith attended the University of Missouri

University of Missouri

The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...

 where he earned Bachelor of Science degrees in both Agricultural Economics and Buiness Administration. He continued his education at the Oklahoma City University School of Law

Oklahoma City University School of Law

Oklahoma City University School of Law, also known as OCU Law, is one of the professional graduate schools of Oklahoma City University. OCU Law is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and was founded in 1907...

, earning his J.D. in 2004. When not involved in his legislative duties Representative Smith works as an attorney, real estate agent, and small business owner.

Political history

Following the resignation of the sitting representative Frank Barnitz, Smith defeated Democrat Bobby Simpson and Libertarian Brent K. Caudill in a special election in November, 2005 to earn a truncated first term. The next year, in 2006 he defeated Democrat Jim O'Donnell and Libertarian Chief Wana Dubie to earn a full term. Smith won reelection in 2008 by a wide margin, beating Democratic challenger James D. Ellis 70% to 30%. He ran unopposed in 2010.

Committees: Representative Smith serves on the following committees.

• Administration and Accounts
• Special Standing Committee on Redistricting
• Ethics
• Professional Registration and Licensing