Sen. Smith may seek Republican nomination

A little-known state senator from Slocomb is moving toward a race for the 2006 Republican nomination for governor, entering a field that includes Gov. Bob Riley and Roy Moore.

Though she has said only that she is considering running, Harri Anne Smith, 43, has created a campaign committee and cashed the check on a major donation from Mignon C. Smith, 74-year-old Avondale Mills heiress and longtime Republican Party promoter.

Wallace Malone, the longtime CEO of SouthTrust, has a long-standing relationship with Sen. Smith. John Grenier, another prominent Republican, has sent out letters advising donors that she would be calling. And Mike Swinehart, a political consultant who has worked for Alfa and numerous GOP candidates, is working for the senator.

Despite the fact that Sen. Smith is relatively new to politics and virtually unknown outside her Wiregrass district, Mignon Smith is already looking past the June primary in which she'll have to beat Riley and Moore, the ousted Alabama chief justice.

"I think Harri Anne is an outstanding person and she'll be fabulous against Lucy Baxley," said Mignon Smith, who acknowledged making a large donation to the senator's campaign but declined to say exactly how much. Lt. Gov. Baxley is seeking the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Swinehart, who arranged for the two Smith women to meet, said neither he nor Mignon Smith would be involved if they didn't think Sen. Smith could win. "I don't fly kites," Swinehart said.

UAB political science professor Larry Powell said Sen. Smith's entry into race would be more damaging to Riley than to Moore. Riley is in a strong position in a two-person race, Powell said. He said Moore has a strong core of support, but not enough to beat Riley.

There are significant numbers of Republicans who are still angry at Riley over his failed $1.2 billion tax package, Powell said, but many of them don't see Moore as an acceptable alternative. Sen. Smith voted against every tax bill in Riley's proposal.

Money can go a long way toward curing lack of statewide name recognition. Powell cited the example of Sen. Ann Bedsole, who managed to get into a runoff against Fob James in 1994 but lost.

And Gerald Johnson, a pollster for Capital Survey Research, pointed out that James started his successful 1978 campaign for governor with less than 5 percent of voters knowing who he was.

Sen. Smith, a former mayor of Slocomb, is a vice president and member of the board of directors of Slocomb National Bank, which was led by her father. When her father died, Sen. Smith followed his final advice and turned to Wallace Malone for advice. That was the beginning of a lasting relationship.

Sen. Smith's 1998 campaign for Senate was at the time the most expensive Senate race ever. She collected almost $500,000 to beat 20-year veteran legislator Chip Bailey, who had just switched to the GOP.

SENATOR
HARRI ANNE SMITH
(R)

29th District
(Dale, Geneva, Houston )

State House: Room 735
11 S. Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-7879 Business: P.O. Box 640
Slocomb, AL 36375
Phone: (334) 886-2367
Fax: (334) 886-2364
Home: P.O. Box 483
Slocomb, AL 36375
(334) 886-3208 E-Mail: harriannesmith@graceba.net

Senator Harri Anne Smith, a native of Slocomb, Alabama is a graduate of Slocomb High School. She attended the University of Alabama and received her Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Troy State University of Dothan.

She began her public service career as a member of the Slocomb City Council, an office she held from 1989 until her election as Mayor of Slocomb in 1996. She was elected to her first term in the Alabama State Senate in 1998 and has been re-elected to serve a second term without opposition.

Senator Smith is a member of six Standing Senate committees including: Finance and Taxation General Fund, Health, Veterans and Military Affairs, Economic Expansion and Trade, Confirmations and Banking. She serves on the following appointed committees: Economic Development Transportation and Cultural Affairs Center of the Southeast Legislative Conference, Joint Legislative Committee for the Agricultural Center, Select Joint Nuclear Energy Activities and Hazardous Chemical Toxic Waste Oversight Committee, Municipal Government Committee, Mental Health Capital Outlay Oversight Commission and the Alabama Congressional Advisory Committee on Farm Programs.

Senator Smith is also very active as a volunteer in her local community. She served as the 2005 Campaign Chair for the Wiregrass Area United Way. She also serves as a member of the Board of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Advisory Council, the Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Revolving Loan Fund and the Alabama Advisory Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Her past community involvement includes: 1993 Chairman of the Geneva County United Way Board, 1995 and 2004 Geneva County Campaign Chair of United Way, 1989 President of the Slocomb Jaycees, Board Member of the Southeast Alabama Regional Council on Aging, Southeast Alabama Symphony Association, Slocomb Senior Citizen's Advisory Board, Board Member of the Southeast Alabama Regional Development Council, Alabama League of Municipalities Legislative Committee, the State of Alabama Agribusiness Council, the Alabama Bankers Association Legislative Committee, the Board of the Geneva County Junior Miss Program, the City of Slocomb Planning and Development Committee and the Organ Transplants of Alabama Board.

Over the years, Senator Smith has received many awards for community involvement and service such as the American Heart Association's "Outstanding Advocate Award" in 2001 and the Alabama State Anesthesiologist Association's "2001 Legislator of the Year Award."

In 2002, she was named "Alumni of the Year" by Troy State University Dothan. The Slocomb City Council named Senator Smith "Outstanding Citizen of the Decade." The National Association of Social Worker's Southeast Alabama Chapter also named her "Elected Public Official of the Year 2002." She was awarded the Dothan Education Association's "Friend of Education Award" for 2002-2003.

In 2000, she was recognized as a "Friend of the Children" by the Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center and in 1999 she was named "Slocomb High School Alumnus of the Year" and the City of Slocomb 1999 "Woman of the Year Award."

In 1998, Girls Incorporated named her "Role Model of the Year" and in 1996 in recognition of her community and public service, she was made a "Hometown Hero" by Wal-Mart Corporation. She was awarded the 1994 Slocomb Elementary School's "Woman of Achievement Award."

Senator Smith is Executive Vice President and Operations Officer for Slocomb National Bank where she also serves as a member of the Board of Directors.

She is married to Charlie Smith, a native of Geneva, Alabama. She and her husband live in Slocomb, Alabama where they are members of the First Baptist Church.

Committees:

Banking and Insurance; Confirmations; Economic Expansion and Trade; Finance and Taxation General Fund; Health; Veterans and Military Affair

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