Greg Smith (Oregon politician)

Greg Smith
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
from the 57th district
Assumed office
2002
Preceded byLynn Lundquist
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
from the 59th district
In office
2001–2002
Preceded byLynn Lundquist
Personal details
Born (1968-11-07) November 7, 1968 (age 56)
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseSherri
Children5
EducationEastern Oregon University (BLS)
Signature

Greg V. Smith (born November 7, 1968) is an American politician serving as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 57th district.

Education

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Smith graduated from Eastern Oregon University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Liberal Studies. He later earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration.

Political career

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Early political involvement

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After graduating from college, Smith served as a community advisory member for Senator Gordon Smith. He was also an intern for then-Oregon House of Representatives Majority Leader Greg Walden. In 1996, Smith was an alternate delegate in the 1996 Republican National Convention.[1]

Oregon House of Representatives

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In 2000 Smith successfully ran for Oregon State Representative for District 59. In 2001, redistricting moved Smith into Oregon's 57th House district. He ran for re-election and won.

Smith's 2024 committee assignments are as follows:[2]

  • Joint Ways and Means Committee, Co-Vice Chair
  • Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on General Government, Co-Chair
  • Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Capital Construction
  • Joint Legislative Administration Committee
  • House Revenue Committee
  • Joint Emergency Board
  • Joint Emergency Board Subcommittee on General Government, Co-Chair

Awards and recognitions

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During his terms in office, Smith has earned a 100% voting records with the Taxpayer Association of Oregon,[3] Oregon Gun Owners of America,[4] Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregonians for Food and Shelter, and the National Federation of Independent Business. The Oregon Cattlemen's Association has given Smith the "Lariat Laureate", their highest award. The Oregon Fair Association has given Smith the title "Grand Champion Legislator" for the work he has done on their behalf. He has also received the "Outstanding Freshman Legislator of the Year" award during the 19th Annual Oregon Rural Health Conference.[5] The NRA Political Victory Fund has consistently given Smith an A+ grade on his votes regarding gun related legislation.[6][7][8][9] In 2009, Associated Oregon Industries named Smith "A Champion for Oregon Jobs and Business."

Controversy

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Smith has been the subject of numerous ethics investigations due to his significant income, reported as approximately $1M per year, but lack of discernible personal income outside of contracts with government entities which directly benefit from state funding which he helps to secure as a Legislator.[10]

"Greg Smith & Company LLC, based in Smith's home in rural Morrow County, has a long practice of obtaining contracts from government agencies that benefit from state appropriations. At the Legislature, Smith is a powerful force on the budget committee that maps out how state money is spent." -Malheur Enterprise, February, 2024.

Smith's consulting work has drawn particular criticism due to the large amounts of State dollars which his work brings to clients located outside of his home district, raising questions about influence-peddling at the expense of his own constituents.[11]

In September, 2024, in his role as the Executive Director of the Columbia Development Authority (CDA), Smith agreed to repay a 51% salary increase which CDA board members stated they had never approved.[12]

Personal life

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He resides in Heppner with his wife Sherri and their five children.[13] He is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints[14]

Political positions

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Following the Standoff at Eagle Pass, Smith signed a letter in support of Texas Governor Greg Abbott's decision in the conflict.[15]

Electoral history

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Greg Smith General Electoral Results 2000–2018*[16][17]
Year Democrat Votes % Republican Votes %
2022 No Candidate Filed Greg Smith 17,384 97.40%
2020 Roland Ruhe 5,917 23.20% Greg Smith 19,487 76.60%
2018 No Candidate Filed Greg Smith 15,794 98.20%
2016 No Candidate Filed Greg Smith 17,432 98.74%
2014 No Candidate Filed Greg Smith 12,637 98.27%
2012 No Candidate Filed Greg Smith 15,242 98.35%
2010 Jean A. Falbo 4,721 22.49% Greg Smith 16,211 77.23%
2008 Jerome (Jerry) Sebestyen 7,186 30.25% Greg Smith 16,504 69.48%
2006 Tonia P. St. Germain 6,058 29.95% Greg Smith 14,119 69.81%
2004 No Candidate Filed Greg Smith 20,876 98.08%
2002 Elizabeth Scheeler 6,382 32.80% Greg Smith 13,025 66.95%
2000 Linda Harrington 7,676 30.71% Greg Smith 17,283 69.15%
Greg Smith Primary Electoral Results 2000–2016*[18]
Year Republican Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
2010 Colleen MacLeod 2,864 36.78% Greg Smith 4,905 62.99%

(*)All elections were for Oregon House of Representatives District 57 except for year 2000, which was for Oregon House District 59.

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References

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  1. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". www.votesmart.org. Archived from the original on October 30, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2009.
  2. ^ "2015 House committees announced". www.statesmanjournal.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  3. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". www.votesmart.org. Archived from the original on November 10, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2010.[title missing]
  4. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". www.votesmart.org. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2010.[title missing]
  5. ^ http://www.leg.state.or.us/smithg/home.htm Archived August 7, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Biography Section, Retrieved September 22, 2009
  6. ^ "NRA-PVF | Grades | Oregon". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on November 4, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ "NRA-PVF | Grades | Oregon". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ "NRA-PVF | Grades | Oregon". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". www.votesmart.org. Archived from the original on September 30, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2010.[title missing]
  10. ^ Zaitz, Les (February 27, 2024). "Smith reports $1 million annual household income – but some sources aren't clear". Malheur Enterprise. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  11. ^ "PUBLIC MONEY, PRIVATE EMPIRE: Greg Smith serves many public masters – for a price". Malheur Enterprise. June 4, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  12. ^ Thorson, Berit (September 20, 2024). "Smith, CDA board at odds over controversial salary increase". East Oregonian. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  13. ^ http://www.leg.state.or.us/smithg/home.htm Archived August 7, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Biography Section, Retrieved September 21, 2009
  14. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  15. ^ "OR Republicans 2024-2-5 Joint letter on Texas" (PDF).
  16. ^ "Oregon Secretary of State". sos.oregon.gov. Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  17. ^ "Content Manager WebDrawer - 2012 General Election Official Results". records.sos.state.or.us. Archived from the original on October 11, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  18. ^ "Content Manager WebDrawer - 2010 Primary Election Official Results". records.sos.state.or.us. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2018.