Ralph K. Smith
Encyclopedia
Ralph K. Smith is an American politician and businessman. A Republican
, he served as mayor of Roanoke, Virginia 2000–04 and was elected to the Senate of Virginia
in November 2007. He the 22nd district, made up of Botetourt County
, the cities of Radford
and Salem
, and parts of Montgomery
and Roanoke
Counties. Prior to entering public service, Smith operated several successful business ventures in the Roanoke Valley
.
area of Roanoke, VA. Smith attended public schools in Roanoke City including William Fleming High School
before graduating from Nashville Auto/Diesel College
in 1961.
Smith went into business as a service station operator in 1966 and began Ralph Smith Inc. The business quickly expanded into steel fabrication
with a specialty for producing trailer hitches. Over the decades, Ralph Smith Inc. also sold bicycles, produced wood burning stoves, and was involved in a variety of manufacturing, retail, and real estate enterprises. Smith significantly scaled back Ralph Smith Inc.’s ventures in recent years so he could devote his attention to his work in the State Senate.
Smith is a member of First Baptist Church in Roanoke, a Roanoke post of the AmVets, the Williamson Road Lions Club, and the Williamson Road Area Business Association. Smith was previously on the boards of First Citizens Bank, VAS Explore Park, the Miss Virginia
Pageant, and the Mill Mountain Advisory Committee.
In 2009, Smith was elected chairman of Freedom Alliance’s Board of Directors. Freedom Alliance is a 501(c)3 educational and charitable foundation with a mission to honor and encourage military service.
Smith has lived in the Roanoke Valley his entire life with the exceptions of when he was being educated at Nashville Auto/Diesel College and during periods of his military service with the United States Coast Guard Reserve between 1964 and 1970.
in San Diego, CA. Smith was also elected as a Delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention
in New York
, NY.
in a four-way race on May 2, 2000. Smith won 35% of the vote and because of the very high voter turnout, won 404 votes more than Mayor Nelson Harris would win while capturing a plurality of 37% in the 2004 election when Smith did not seek re-election.
Smith was the lone Republican member of the Roanoke City Council during most of his tenure and was frequently opposed by the six Democratic council members when he attempted to minimize and reduce city spending. Smith often sought to work with other localities to promote the entire Roanoke Valley. Smith successfully initiated the creation of the Western Virginia Water Authority, which consolidated the water delivery systems of Roanoke City and Roanoke County.
Smith did not seek re-election and moved to neighboring Botetourt County. This decision and comments made by Smith led to speculation that he was interested in following Delegate Lacey Putney in the Virginia House of Delegates
.
The campaign largely focused on Bell’s support for a 2004 tax increase and Smith’s record as mayor. Smith was outspent by Bell $301,924 to $80,867 but was able to win 51%-49%. Smith ran up large margins in the more populous counties of Botetourt and Roanoke which also turned out to vote at higher rates than Montgomery County or the cities of Radford and Salem that Bell won.
Smith faced plastic surgeon and Democratic nominee Michael Breiner in the November 6, 2007 general election. Breiner repeatedly attacked Smith for a “38 % decrease” in funding to social services. Smith and the Roanoke Times countered that Breiner’s allegations against Smith were misleading because the actual vote was part of Roanoke’s unanimously passed 2001-2002 budget that was assembled by the city manager
.
Smith was again outspent by his opponent, this time by a margin of $732,428 to $283,131. Smith won the general election 51%-49%.
Smith was sworn into the Senate of Virginia on January 9, 2008 and appointed to serve on the Transportation, Local Government, and Privileges and Elections committees.
Smith has accumulated a conservative voting record since joining the Senate, receiving a 100% rating from the Virginia Family Foundation and successfully sponsoring legislation supported by the National Rifle Association. Smith has also continued his support for regional initiatives in the Senate and been a proponent of the Western Regional Jail.
In 2009, Smith successfully sponsored legislation that “Adds the benefits, challenges, responsibilities, and value of marriage for men, women, children, and communities to the list of topics to be covered in family life education curricula.”
That year, Smith also introduced legislation that would require the budget to be publicly available for 72 hours before legislators could vote. In the previous year, the Commonwealth’s $77 billion budget was presented to legislators just 34 minutes before the vote. Smith’s bill won the praise of the Roanoke Times editorial board, but was defeated in the Senate Finance Committee.
Smith argued that both the 2008 and 2009 budget bills contained overly optimistic revenue projections and opposed both bills. Actual revenue for 2008 and 2009 failed to meet the projections and necessitated Governor
Tim Kaine
to reduce state funding of transportation, higher education, and other services.
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...
, he served as mayor of Roanoke, Virginia 2000–04 and was elected to the Senate of Virginia
Senate of Virginia
The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 Senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia...
in November 2007. He the 22nd district, made up of Botetourt County
Botetourt County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,496 people, 11,700 households, and 9,114 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile . There were 12,571 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
, the cities of Radford
Radford, Virginia
Radford is a city in Virginia, United States. The population was 16,408 in 2010. For statistical purposes, the Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Radford with neighboring Montgomery County, including the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg, calling the combination the...
and Salem
Salem, Virginia
Salem is an independent city in Virginia, USA, bordered by the city of Roanoke to the east but otherwise adjacent to Roanoke County. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 24,802 according to 2010 U.S. Census...
, and parts of Montgomery
Montgomery County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 83,629 people, 30,997 households, and 17,203 families residing in the county. The population density was 215 people per square mile . There were 32,527 housing units at an average density of 84 per square mile...
and Roanoke
Roanoke County, Virginia
Roanoke County is a county located in the U.S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area and located within the Roanoke Region of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 85,778. As of 2010, the population was 92,376...
Counties. Prior to entering public service, Smith operated several successful business ventures in the Roanoke Valley
Roanoke Valley
The Roanoke Valley in southwest Virginia is an area adjacent to and including the Roanoke River between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Appalachian Plateau to the west...
.
Personal life
Smith was born and grew up in the Williamson RoadWilliamson Road
Williamson Road is an approximately 8.0 mi long road in Roanoke City and Roanoke County, Virginia. The road runs from downtown Roanoke in the south through the Botetourt County line in the north. For the majority of its length Williamson Road carries U.S. Route 11...
area of Roanoke, VA. Smith attended public schools in Roanoke City including William Fleming High School
William Fleming High School
William Fleming High School is a public high school in the Miller Court/Arrowood neighborhood of Roanoke, Virginia, U.S.A.. It is one of the two general enrollment high schools for the Roanoke City Public Schools.-History:...
before graduating from Nashville Auto/Diesel College
Lincoln Group of Schools
The Lincoln Group of Schools is a group of for-profit vocational institutions consisting of 43 campuses in the United States. Each campus is owned and operated by Lincoln Educational Services Corporation...
in 1961.
Smith went into business as a service station operator in 1966 and began Ralph Smith Inc. The business quickly expanded into steel fabrication
Fabrication (metal)
Fabrication as an industrial term refers to building metal structures by cutting, bending, and assembling. The cutting part of fabrication is via sawing, shearing, or chiseling ; torching with handheld torches ; and via CNC cutters...
with a specialty for producing trailer hitches. Over the decades, Ralph Smith Inc. also sold bicycles, produced wood burning stoves, and was involved in a variety of manufacturing, retail, and real estate enterprises. Smith significantly scaled back Ralph Smith Inc.’s ventures in recent years so he could devote his attention to his work in the State Senate.
Smith is a member of First Baptist Church in Roanoke, a Roanoke post of the AmVets, the Williamson Road Lions Club, and the Williamson Road Area Business Association. Smith was previously on the boards of First Citizens Bank, VAS Explore Park, the Miss Virginia
Miss Virginia
The Miss Virginia competition is a scholarship pageant for women, with the titleholder representing Virginia in the Miss America pageant. The competition was founded in 1953 as a scholarship contest for young women, although women had represented Virginia in the Miss America pageant since the 1930s...
Pageant, and the Mill Mountain Advisory Committee.
In 2009, Smith was elected chairman of Freedom Alliance’s Board of Directors. Freedom Alliance is a 501(c)3 educational and charitable foundation with a mission to honor and encourage military service.
Smith has lived in the Roanoke Valley his entire life with the exceptions of when he was being educated at Nashville Auto/Diesel College and during periods of his military service with the United States Coast Guard Reserve between 1964 and 1970.
Political career
Smith became involved in Virginia Republican politics in the early 1990s, and was elected Chairman of the Roanoke City Republican Committee in 1996. That year Smith was also elected as a Delegate to the 1996 Republican National Convention1996 Republican National Convention
The 1996 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States convened at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California, from August 12 to August 15, 1996...
in San Diego, CA. Smith was also elected as a Delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention
2004 Republican National Convention
The 2004 Republican National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States, took place from August 30 to September 2, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, NY.
Mayor of Roanoke
Smith defeated two-term Democratic incumbent Mayor David BowersDavid A. Bowers
David A. Bowers is the mayor of Roanoke, Virginia; his current term began on July 1, 2008. He previously served as mayor of the city from 1992 to 2000. A Democrat, he was elected mayor after serving on the city council. Bowers' service as mayor fulfilled a lifelong ambition for the Roanoke...
in a four-way race on May 2, 2000. Smith won 35% of the vote and because of the very high voter turnout, won 404 votes more than Mayor Nelson Harris would win while capturing a plurality of 37% in the 2004 election when Smith did not seek re-election.
Smith was the lone Republican member of the Roanoke City Council during most of his tenure and was frequently opposed by the six Democratic council members when he attempted to minimize and reduce city spending. Smith often sought to work with other localities to promote the entire Roanoke Valley. Smith successfully initiated the creation of the Western Virginia Water Authority, which consolidated the water delivery systems of Roanoke City and Roanoke County.
Smith did not seek re-election and moved to neighboring Botetourt County. This decision and comments made by Smith led to speculation that he was interested in following Delegate Lacey Putney in the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
.
State Senate
The Roanoke Times reported on October 26, 2006, that Smith might be receptive to the efforts by Roanoke Valley Republican activists seeking to draft him to challenge incumbent Republican State Senator Brandon Bell. On January 8, 2007, Smith announced that he would challenge Bell for the Republican nomination in the June 12, 2007 Republican primary.The campaign largely focused on Bell’s support for a 2004 tax increase and Smith’s record as mayor. Smith was outspent by Bell $301,924 to $80,867 but was able to win 51%-49%. Smith ran up large margins in the more populous counties of Botetourt and Roanoke which also turned out to vote at higher rates than Montgomery County or the cities of Radford and Salem that Bell won.
Smith faced plastic surgeon and Democratic nominee Michael Breiner in the November 6, 2007 general election. Breiner repeatedly attacked Smith for a “38 % decrease” in funding to social services. Smith and the Roanoke Times countered that Breiner’s allegations against Smith were misleading because the actual vote was part of Roanoke’s unanimously passed 2001-2002 budget that was assembled by the city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
.
Smith was again outspent by his opponent, this time by a margin of $732,428 to $283,131. Smith won the general election 51%-49%.
Smith was sworn into the Senate of Virginia on January 9, 2008 and appointed to serve on the Transportation, Local Government, and Privileges and Elections committees.
Smith has accumulated a conservative voting record since joining the Senate, receiving a 100% rating from the Virginia Family Foundation and successfully sponsoring legislation supported by the National Rifle Association. Smith has also continued his support for regional initiatives in the Senate and been a proponent of the Western Regional Jail.
In 2009, Smith successfully sponsored legislation that “Adds the benefits, challenges, responsibilities, and value of marriage for men, women, children, and communities to the list of topics to be covered in family life education curricula.”
That year, Smith also introduced legislation that would require the budget to be publicly available for 72 hours before legislators could vote. In the previous year, the Commonwealth’s $77 billion budget was presented to legislators just 34 minutes before the vote. Smith’s bill won the praise of the Roanoke Times editorial board, but was defeated in the Senate Finance Committee.
Smith argued that both the 2008 and 2009 budget bills contained overly optimistic revenue projections and opposed both bills. Actual revenue for 2008 and 2009 failed to meet the projections and necessitated Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Tim Kaine
Tim Kaine
Timothy Michael "Tim" Kaine is a Virginia politician. Kaine served as the 70th Governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, and was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011...
to reduce state funding of transportation, higher education, and other services.