SENATOR SMITH ASSUMES NEW RESPONSIBILITIES IN STATE SENATE

  Newly-elected District 30 State Senator John Smith (D-Leesville) will assume a pivotal role in ethics reform and finance issues during the 2008-2012 Louisiana State Senate as Vice-Chair of the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee and as a member of the Senate Finance Committee. He will also serve on the Senate Natural Resources and Agriculture committees. After serving five terms in the House of Representatives, Senator Smith was chosen by the people of District 30, which includes all of Vernon and Beauregard parishes as well as the northern and western portions of Calcasieu Parish, to represent them in the Senate last fall. Since then, he has been busy laying out his legislative priorities.

  "I'm honored to have the opportunity as a first-term Senator to bring my expertise and experience to these important committee assignments," said Senator Smith. "I think it's of utmost importance that we bring stronger ethical standards and fiscal responsibility to state government."

  As a Vice-Chair of the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee, he plans to tackle major ethics reform to provide citizens and the rest of the nation with the confidence that our state government operates fairly and honestly. This term, the committee will also play an important role in reapportionment, the realignment of election districts to reflect the state's changing population. As a member of the Finance Committee, Senator Smith will focus on maximizing the use of state funds in such areas as economic development, education, health care and infrastructure as well as reducing the state debt.

  Senator Smith received his MBA from Loyola University and is a small business owner. He is a former Vernon Parish Police Juror. During his membership in the House, he served on the House Governmental Affairs and Appropriations committees, the counterparts to the Senate Governmental Affairs and Finance committees, as well as the House Natural Resource Committee. He and his wife Pamela have two children.