Jeff Smith (American politician)
Encyclopedia
Jeff Smith is a former Democratic
member of the Missouri Senate
, representing the 4th district from 2007 until 2009. His district covered the western portion of the City of St. Louis
. On August 25, 2009 he pled guilty to two counts of obstruction of justice and resigned his seat. He admitted his involvement, and attempted cover-up, in two federal election law violations committed during his 2004 campaign for Congress. These violations involved his campaign's coordination with an independent group to fund and create a mailer with information about the voting record of his opponent, Russ Carnahan
.
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
.
Smith has taught as an Adjunct and/or Visiting Professor 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.
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
. 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. In February 2007, the documentary aired on the award-winning PBS
series Independent Lens
.
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.
Smith, who was widely seen as a rising star in the state Democratic Party, worked across the aisle to pass several pieces of major legislation. On December 22, 2008 Sen Smith introduced Paternity Reform legislation in the Missouri State Senate. Sen. Smith's SB 140 created "fathering courts" throughout the state, while SB 141 is generally like the model legislation. Governor Jay Nixon
signed both bills into law shortly after the 2009 legislative session. Smith also emerged in 2009 as the Legislature's leading advocate for historic preservation tax credits.
. However, Smith was sent to a federal prison in Manchester, Kentucky
. In late August 2010 he was released to a halfway house in St. Louis. In late November 2010, he was released early from the halfway house and is no longer in federal custody.
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...
member of the Missouri Senate
Missouri Senate
The Missouri State Senate is the upper chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 34 members, representing districts with an average population of 160,000...
, representing the 4th district from 2007 until 2009. His district covered the western portion of the City of St. Louis
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...
. On August 25, 2009 he pled guilty to two counts of obstruction of justice and resigned his seat. He admitted his involvement, and attempted cover-up, in two federal election law violations committed during his 2004 campaign for Congress. These violations involved his campaign's coordination with an independent group to fund and create a mailer with information about the voting record of his opponent, Russ Carnahan
Russ Carnahan
John Russell "Russ" Carnahan is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes the southern third of the city of St. Louis and most of the southern St. Louis suburbs including most of Jefferson County and all of Ste. Genevieve County...
.
Early life
Smith is Jewish and was raised in the St. Louis suburb of Olivette, MissouriOlivette, Missouri
Olivette is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 7,737 at the 2010 census.-History:...
and graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
Ladue Horton Watkins High School, is a public high school located in the St. Louis suburb of Ladue, Missouri. It opened in the fall of 1952, and was named after Horton Watkins, Vice President of the International Shoe Company, who had just died in 1949. Mrs...
. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a double major in African-American Studies and political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He received his MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
and PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in political science from Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
.
Smith has taught as an Adjunct and/or Visiting Professor at Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
, the University of Missouri–St. Louis
University of Missouri–St. Louis
The University of Missouri–St. Louis is one of four universities in the University of Missouri System. Established in 1963, it is the newest university in the UM System. , it is the largest university by enrollment in the St. Louis area with 16,548 students...
, and Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
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.
Political career
In 2004, Smith was a candidate in the crowded Democratic primary electionPrimary 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....
for the U.S. House of Representatives to replace retiring Congressman Dick Gephardt
Dick Gephardt
Richard Andrew "Dick" Gephardt is a lobbyist and former prominent American politician of the Democratic Party. Gephardt served as a U.S. Representative from Missouri from January 3, 1977, until January 3, 2005, serving as House Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995, and as Minority Leader from 1995 to...
. Beginning as an unknown, Smith finished second in the ten-candidate field, narrowly losing to Russ Carnahan
Russ Carnahan
John Russell "Russ" Carnahan is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes the southern third of the city of St. Louis and most of the southern St. Louis suburbs including most of Jefferson County and all of Ste. Genevieve County...
. His campaign was widely recognized as an example of successful grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
organizing. It was the subject of the documentary film Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?
Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?
Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore? is a 2006 documentary film directed by Frank Popper, which follows Missouri politician Jeff Smith's 2004 Democratic primary election campaign to the United States House of Representatives after the retirement of Dick Gephardt from his seat...
, which won the 2006 audience choice award at the Silverdocs
Silverdocs
AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs Documentary Festival is an American international film festival created by the American Film Institute and Discovery Channel. It is held every year in Silver Spring, Maryland near Washington, D.C.. Started in 2003, the festival is held for eight days in June at...
film festival. In February 2007, the documentary aired on the award-winning PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
series Independent Lens
Independent Lens
Airing weekly on PBS through ITVS, the Emmy Award-winning series Independent Lens introduces new drama and documentary films made by independent filmmakers. Past seasons of Independent Lens have been presented by hosts Angela Bassett, Don Cheadle, Susan Sarandon, Edie Falco, Terrence Howard, Maggie...
.
A year after his unsuccessful Congressional campaign, Smith announced his intention to seek the Missouri State Senate seat being vacated by Pat Dougherty
Pat Dougherty
Patrick Dougherty is an American Democratic politician. Due to term limits, he retired from political life in 2007 after nearly 30 years of service in the Missouri General Assembly.-Education and background:...
. The race was heavily contested and other candidates included State Representatives Yaphett El-Amin
Yaphett El-Amin
Yaphett El-Amin is an American politician who, until 2006, represented a portion of St. Louis in the Missouri House of Representatives. She is a Democrat.El-Amin is a native of St. Louis...
, and Amber Boykins
Amber Boykins
Amber "Holly" Boykins is an American politician. She currently represents a portion of North St. Louis in the Missouri House of Representatives. She is a Democrat...
, former State Representative Derio Gambaro
Derio Gambaro
Derio L. Gambaro is an American politician. He previously served in the Missouri House of Representatives where he represented a portion of South St. Louis including The Hill and Dogtown neighborhoods. He is a Democrat....
, and former St. Louis Alderman Kenny Jones. Smith won the primary election on August 8, 2006, and was unopposed in the general election.
Smith, who was widely seen as a rising star in the state Democratic Party, worked across the aisle to pass several pieces of major legislation. On December 22, 2008 Sen Smith introduced Paternity Reform legislation in the Missouri State Senate. Sen. Smith's SB 140 created "fathering courts" throughout the state, while SB 141 is generally like the model legislation. Governor Jay Nixon
Jay Nixon
Jeremiah Wilson "Jay" Nixon, Sr. is the 55th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Missouri. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as Missouri's Attorney General before his election in 2008.-Political career:...
signed both bills into law shortly after the 2009 legislative session. Smith also emerged in 2009 as the Legislature's leading advocate for historic preservation tax credits.
Criminal conviction
In September 2004, Smith submitted a false affidavit to the Federal Election Commission relating to a conspiracy with a group called Voters for Truth in the summer of 2004, to run negative advertisements against Russ Carnahan, Smith's opponent in a congressional race. In January 2009, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office, acting upon newly discovered information, opened a criminal investigation to determine whether anyone had attempted to obstruct the Federal Election Commission proceeding. Smith pleaded guilty to two felony counts of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Each conspiracy count is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines. He resigned effective August 25, 2009 and was sentenced to one year and a day of prison. He also was fined $50,000. His lawyer requested Smith be sent to a prison camp in Marion, IllinoisMarion, Illinois
The city of Marion is the county seat of Williamson County, Illinois. The 2010 census counted 17,193 residents, making Marion the 25th most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area, in Illinois, and the second most populous city in Southern Illinois, outside of the Metro-East, behind...
. However, Smith was sent to a federal prison in Manchester, Kentucky
Manchester, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,738 people, 778 households, and 455 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,148.4 people per square mile . There were 844 housing units at an average density of 557.7 per square mile...
. In late August 2010 he was released to a halfway house in St. Louis. In late November 2010, he was released early from the halfway house and is no longer in federal custody.
Current Life
In spring 2011, Smith was married and in September, he and his wife Teresa had their first child, Charlie Wallace Smith. Recently, Smith accepted a professorial position in the urban policy graduate program at Milano, the New School of Management and Urban Policy in New York City. At present he writes for The Recovering Politician and contributes to Politico - The Arena . His writing has been published in Inc. magazine and praised in New York Magazine's Approval Matrix . Smith plans to publish a book, which details his time in politics and federal prison, in late 2011 to early 2012 .External links
- Missouri Senate - Jeff Smith official government website
- Jeff Smith for Missouri Senate official campaign website, as of October 13, 2006
- Follow the Money - Jeff Smith
- 2006 campaign contributions
- CAN MR. SMITH GET TO WASHINGTON ANYMORE? site for Independent LensIndependent LensAiring weekly on PBS through ITVS, the Emmy Award-winning series Independent Lens introduces new drama and documentary films made by independent filmmakers. Past seasons of Independent Lens have been presented by hosts Angela Bassett, Don Cheadle, Susan Sarandon, Edie Falco, Terrence Howard, Maggie...
on PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia.... - Mo Senator Jeff Smith submits SB141 in Missouri MakeTheRealDadPay.org
- Paternity Fraud Reform Introduced in the Missouri Senate AllVoices.com
- Ex-Senator Jeff Smith: campaign lie landed me in jail Radio Interview with The State We're In