Fred Smith | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theNorth Carolina Senate from the12th district | |
| In office January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Allen Wellons (redistricting) |
| Succeeded by | David Rouzer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1942-03-27)March 27, 1942 (age 83) Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Virginia Reid Smith |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | Needham B. Broughton High School |
| Alma mater | Wake Forest University |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Rank | Captain |
Fred Smith (born March 27, 1942) is aNorth Carolina politician who served in theNorth Carolina Senate and ran forGovernor of North Carolina in2008.
Smith was raised inRaleigh, North Carolina.[1] His father was a teacher and coach at an orphanage, and his mother was a homemaker. While attending Raleigh'sNeedham B. Broughton High School, Smith earned a football scholarship to attendWake Forest University. Subsequently, he attendedWake Forest University School of Law, where he graduated with honors in 1966.
Smith is married to Virginia Reid Smith, is father to five children, and is grandfather to seven children. The Smith family is active in the First Baptist Church of Clayton, where he has been a Sunday school teacher.
Smith served as acaptain in theU.S. Army JAG Corps for four years after law school. In the years that followed, Smith became a lawyer and homebuilder. Smith's businesses employ more than 600 people inWake andJohnston counties. The largest of those companies is paving company CC Mangum, of which he is the CEO. Smith also created the Fred Smith Company, which builds homes and constructs golf courses and athletic clubs.[2] Smith touts himself as a CEO, not a politician, who deals with "straight talk and a clear vision."[3]
Smith was elected in 2000 as aJohnston County commissioner. In 2002, he was elected to the first of 3 terms in the state Senate, representing the Johnston andWayne counties.[4]
Smith argued for a critical east–west transportation corridor. He was a primary sponsor ofNorth Carolina Amendment 1, an amendment to theConstitution of North Carolina which would define marriage as between one man and one woman.
Smith was heavily criticized by theDemocratic Party, including criticisms from then-state party chairmanJerry Meek, as being an absentee Senator, because Smith missed over 300 votes in 2007, which was over a quarter of all possible voting opportunities.[5]
In 2007, Smith became a candidate for Governor. The office was coming open as a result of the departure of term-limited incumbent,Mike Easley. During his gubernatorial campaign, Smith physically visited all 100 North Carolina counties in nine months and 18 days, holding a barbecue dinner in each county. Barbecue dinners, known as the "Fred Smith for Governor BBQ Statewide Tour",[6] started inHaywood County on Thursday, August 2, 2007, and ended on Tuesday, March 18, 2008, inPasquotank County.
Smith lost the 2008 Republican primary toCharlotte MayorPat McCrory. Official primary election results show Smith won 66 counties but out of a total of 504,973 votes, Smith lost the popular vote to Pat McCrory by 45,975 votes.[7]
On May 6, 2008, Smith endorsed Pat McCrory, saying, "I have pledged my full support to Pat McCrory to do whatever is in my power to help elect a Republican governor in November to change the culture in Raleigh and fix our broken government."[8] McCrory was not elected in 2008, but was elected in2012. After taking office in 2013, McCrory appointed Smith to the North Carolina Economic Development Board.[9][10]
| North Carolina Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theNorth Carolina Senate from the12th district 2003–2009 | Succeeded by |