N. Leonard Smith
Encyclopedia
N. Leonard "Len" Smith is an American
politician
from New Jersey
. He was a 2006 independent candidate for the United States Senate
, a former member of the Camden County
Board of Chosen Freeholders
, and is a pro-life
activist.
Smith served in the U.S. Army from February 1951 to February 1953, and served 9 months in Korea
.
Smith is a retired public school teacher in History and English with 30 years of experience. He also has coached running (track and cross country) at the high school and college level for more than 50 years.
In 1956, Smith was elected to the Clementon Borough Council. In 1961, he was elected to the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders as a republican
for one term, where he served as Director of Revenue and Finance.
After serving as a Freeholder in Camden County, Smith moved to Atlantic County and lived in Northfield
for 38 years. While there, he was elected to the Northfield Board of Education
. He recently moved within Atlantic County and currently resides in Hammonton
.
In 1976, Smith was a candidate for the republican nomination for U.S. Senate. He lost to David Norcross,who went on to lose to Harrison Williams
in the general election.
Smith is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
, the Knights of Columbus
, and the Northfield Historical Society.
Smith is a Roman Catholic and a widower. He and his wife of 45 years, the late Lois Smith (née Kinsley), raised 10 children. In 2002, Smith's family received the “Family of the Year” award from the Family Service Association for South Jersey.
candidate who ran for the U.S. Senate from New Jersey in 2006. He describes this as being his "major motivation" for being a candidate because Republican Thomas Kean, Jr. and Democrat Bob Menendez both support abortion rights
.http://www.hallnj.org/virtualdebate/smith_opening.jsp
Also, Smith supported the War on Terrorism
and the Iraq War. Moreover, he supported veterans care and services. In addition, he supported cutting taxes, spending, and waste and favored balanced budgets.http://www.njvoterinfo.org/?p=ge2006/smithNL.php
During the senate campaign, New Jersey political pundit
David P. Rebovich had written that Smith's presence in the race could divert conservative
and pro-life votes from Kean that would otherwise go to Kean in the absence of a pro-life candidate being on the general election ballot.http://politics.nexcess.net/rebovich/2006/06/lessons_from_new_jerseys_prima.html Smith was endorsed by New Jersey Right To Life Political Action Committee.http://www.njrtl.org/content/newsletter_details.asp?ArticleID=1229
Smith finished sixth receiving 6,243 votes for 0.3% of the vote.
in Washington, D.C. for Atlantic
, Cape May
, and Cumberland
Counties and was the co-coordinator of the Atlantic County Life Chain
.
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...
from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He was a 2006 independent candidate for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, a former member of the Camden County
Camden County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census the population of Camden County was 60.28% Non-Hispanic white, 18.45% Non-Hispanic black, 1.12% Hispanic blacks, 0.17% Non-Hispanic Native American, 0.15% Hispanic Native Americans, 5.07% Non-Hispanic Asian, and 0.14% non-Hispanics reporting some other race...
Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
, and is a pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
activist.
Biography
Smith was born in Philadelphia on March 13, 1929. He graduated from Lower Camden County Regional High School in 1947 and LaSalle College in 1955.Smith served in the U.S. Army from February 1951 to February 1953, and served 9 months in Korea
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
Smith is a retired public school teacher in History and English with 30 years of experience. He also has coached running (track and cross country) at the high school and college level for more than 50 years.
In 1956, Smith was elected to the Clementon Borough Council. In 1961, he was elected to the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders as 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...
for one term, where he served as Director of Revenue and Finance.
After serving as a Freeholder in Camden County, Smith moved to Atlantic County and lived in Northfield
Northfield, New Jersey
Northfield is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 8,624.Northfield was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 21, 1905, from portions of Egg Harbor Township...
for 38 years. While there, he was elected to the Northfield Board of Education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
. He recently moved within Atlantic County and currently resides in Hammonton
Hammonton, New Jersey
Hammonton is a town in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 14,791. It is located directly between Philadelphia and the resort town of Atlantic City, along a former route of the Pennsylvania Railroad currently used by New Jersey...
.
In 1976, Smith was a candidate for the republican nomination for U.S. Senate. He lost to David Norcross,who went on to lose to Harrison Williams
Harrison A. Williams
Harrison Arlington "Pete" Williams, Jr. was a Democrat who represented New Jersey in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate . Williams was convicted on May 1, 1981 for taking bribes in the Abscam sting operation, and resigned from the U.S. Senate in 1982...
in the general election.
Smith is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VFW currently has 1.5 million members belonging to 7,644 posts, and is the largest American organization of combat...
, the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
, and the Northfield Historical Society.
Smith is a Roman Catholic and a widower. He and his wife of 45 years, the late Lois Smith (née Kinsley), raised 10 children. In 2002, Smith's family received the “Family of the Year” award from the Family Service Association for South Jersey.
2006 campaign for U.S. Senate
Smith was the only pro-lifePro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
candidate who ran for the U.S. Senate from New Jersey in 2006. He describes this as being his "major motivation" for being a candidate because Republican Thomas Kean, Jr. and Democrat Bob Menendez both support abortion rights
Abortion debate
The abortion debate refers to discussion and controversy surrounding the moral and legal status of abortion. The two main groups involved in the abortion debate are the self-described "pro-choice" movement and the "pro-life" movement...
.http://www.hallnj.org/virtualdebate/smith_opening.jsp
Also, Smith supported the War on Terrorism
War on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
and the Iraq War. Moreover, he supported veterans care and services. In addition, he supported cutting taxes, spending, and waste and favored balanced budgets.http://www.njvoterinfo.org/?p=ge2006/smithNL.php
During the senate campaign, New Jersey political pundit
Pundit (politics)
A pundit is someone who offers to mass media his or her opinion or commentary on a particular subject area on which they are knowledgeable. The term has been increasingly applied to popular media personalities...
David P. Rebovich had written that Smith's presence in the race could divert conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
and pro-life votes from Kean that would otherwise go to Kean in the absence of a pro-life candidate being on the general election ballot.http://politics.nexcess.net/rebovich/2006/06/lessons_from_new_jerseys_prima.html Smith was endorsed by New Jersey Right To Life Political Action Committee.http://www.njrtl.org/content/newsletter_details.asp?ArticleID=1229
Smith finished sixth receiving 6,243 votes for 0.3% of the vote.
Activities in the Pro-Life movement
Smith has been very active in the Pro-Life movement. He served as Chairman of the Respect Life Committee for St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church in Northfield. He has coordinated transportation for the annual March for LifeMarch for Life
March for Life is an annual pro-life rally protesting abortion, held in Washington, D.C., on or around the anniversary of the United States Supreme Court's decision legalizing abortion in the case Roe v. Wade. The march is organized by the March for Life Education and Defense Fund. The overall goal...
in Washington, D.C. for Atlantic
Atlantic County, New Jersey
-National protected areas:* Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge * Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River -Demographics:...
, Cape May
Cape May County, New Jersey
-Climate:Being the southernmost point in New Jersey, Cape May has fairly mild wintertime temperatures. Contrary to that, the summertime has lower temperatures than most places in the state, making the county a popular place to escape the heat. It is in zone 7a/7b, which is the same as parts of...
, and Cumberland
Cumberland County, New Jersey
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population is 156,898. Its county seat is Bridgeton. Cumberland County is named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland....
Counties and was the co-coordinator of the Atlantic County Life Chain
Life Chain
The Life Chain is a pro-life social movement organization, one of the largest in the country. It was started in 1987 in Yuba City and Marysville by a small California-based pro-life ministry called Please Let Me Live...
.