ROME, GA - Senator Preston Smith announced today he will seek reelection in the 52^nd Senate District.

 "After much prayer and careful consideration I decided that there is still much work left to be done in Atlanta," said Smith.  "Serving in the General Assembly has been one of the greatest honors in my life, and I look forward to continuing to serve the people of the 52^nd District, and the people of Georgia under the Gold Dome."

Senator Smith was first elected in 2002.  Senator Smith entered the Senate as a part of the first Republican Senate majority in modern times.  Despite being in his first year, Smith enjoyed a meteoric rise into the Senate leadership, where he now serves as an Administration Floor Leader for Governor Sonny Perdue.  The appointment marked the first time in the State’s history that a first-term Senator was tapped to be an Administration Floor Leader.

During his first term in office, Sen. Smith authored or co-sponsored over 100 bills and resolutions.  In his first year, he was appointed as a Deputy Whip and later as ‘Caucus Counsel’ to the Senate Majority Caucus.  He was also appointed to five influential committees.  He serves as Vice-Chairman of the Ethics Committee and Secretary of the Health & Human Services Committee.  He is also a member of the Judiciary, Economic Development & Tourism, and Children & Youth Committees.

By the end of his term, he had been elevated to the position of Senate Floor Leader and had earned the respect of colleagues in both parties for his leadership skills and his engagement in sometimes fiery debate.  He was also known for his aggressive advocacy for the Northwest Georgia region that he represents.  Sen. Smith gained state-wide notoriety for his work on the tort reform issue.  In his first year, he co-sponsored the comprehensive tort reform bill and then led the Senate members of the conference committee to negotiate a compromise of the final bill.  In 2004, Sen. Smith authored and co-sponsored several other reform bills and successfully led the nearly eight hour floor debate which has been called the most complex debate in recent history.

During 2004, Sen. Smith carried SB517, the Governor’s comprehensive ethics reform package as well as SB428 and SB429, the Administration’s education reform bills.  He also worked tirelessly in support of the child protection laws which saw final passage this year with bi-partisan support.  At the end of the 2004 legislative session, Sen. Smith was appointed to serve on the conference committees for both the comprehensive education reform (HB1190) and tort reform (HB1028) bills.  

2004 saw the final passage of several bills authored by Sen. Smith.  SB541, the so-called “Shooter-Voter Bill” will allow citizens to register to vote at any location where they can obtain hunting or fishing licenses in the state.  This bill has become a model for other states, many of which are expected to follow suit next year.  Smith also passed SB243, a homeland security bill which calls for a unified incident command system for multi-jurisdictional responses to emergencies, including terrorism.  The bill will qualify Georgia for an estimated $60 million in federal funds in October of 2004.  Sen. Smith also authored the ‘Truancy Enforcement Act’.  He originally proposed the language in SB392 and then adopted it into HB1190 in the conference committee on which he served.  The bill will require students to remain in school in order to keep their drivers’ license and get a job.  

In October of 2003, Georgia Trend magazine highlighted Sen. Smith as a rising star in their ’40 Under 40’ list of the forty most influential Georgians under the age of forty.  Recently, Sen. Smith was also appointed to serve in the leadership of President Bush’s reelection campaign in Georgia.  He will serve on the President’s state-wide steering committee as will also serve as the Chairman of the 11^th Congressional District for the Bush-Cheney campaign. 

Gov. Perdue, who appointed Smith to be an Administration Floor Leader said, “Sen. Smith has made a considerable impression upon me during his first term as a State Senator.  His knowledge of Georgia law is significant and his leadership ability is without question.  I am looking forward to working with Sen. Smith next year as we make changes in the laws that affect all Georgians.”

Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) called Smith one of the Senate’s “brightest new stars.”  “I feel certain that Georgia is going to see a lot more of Sen. Smith over the next few years and I believe he is going to serve Georgia well in what should prove to be a long and successful career as a public servant.”

The position as Administration Floor Leader previously was held by Sen. Bill Stephens (R-Canton) who now serves as the Senate Majority Leader.  “Preston Smith has an extremely bright future ahead of him,” Sen. Stephens said.  Having such close access to the Governor will be a great advantage to the people of Northwest Georgia.”

Sen. Smith lives in Rome with his wife Michelle and their four children, Preston Jr. (age 9), Christi (age 6), Jordan (age 3) and Marshall (age 1).  He is a partner with the Rome law firm of Cox, Byington, Corwin, Niedrach, Smith & Perkins.  He formerly served as the youth minister at West Rome Baptist Church and an instructor of Business and Law at Floyd College.

Sen. Smith attended Baylor University on an academic/leadership scholarship where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration, with a major in Management and a minor in Corporate Communications.  He then attended the University of Georgia School of Law where he earned a Juris Doctor degree.

He and his wife have been active members of their community and church. He is a member of the Rome Rotary Club and the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce. He has been an organizer/coach of the Greater Rome Area Home-School Mock Trial team and the Armuchee High School Mock Trial Team, and a supporter of the Crisis Pregnancy Center. He has also volunteered coaching youth soccer, baseball and basketball with the local YMCA athletic teams. He is a life-long member of the NRA and enjoys outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, target shooting and recreational sports. He and his family are also active members at West Rome Baptist Church.

Sen. Smith said, “My focus this term has been on the bread and butter issues that matter to my constituents: education, healthcare, jobs, crime, water and transportation.  I have worked hard to help teachers create a better environment for learning, to encourage new economic development in our region, to foster affordable access to quality healthcare, to fight for the completion of the US411 connector to I-75, and to zealously defend our Coosa River Basin water resource.”

The new 52^nd District includes all of Floyd County, and portions of Bartow and Gordon Counties.

 "My ultimate goal is not winning elections or gaining majorities.  My goal is to make life better for the people of Georgia.  This year, we have made tremendous progress, passing important legislation to improve education and make our children safer.  I look forward to continuing our progress in the years to come," concluded Smith.