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 What others are saying about Sen. Preston Smith: "The most visionary fiscal conservative addressing the potentially runaway costs of the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council is state Sen. Preston Smith (R-Rome), who chairs the oversight panel. He’s proposing legislation to give financial responsibility for some cases back to counties, where costs can be better managed..." -Jim Wooten, Atlanta Journal Constitution "Thinking Right" February 25, 2010 "For my money, the best...debate of the session so far occurred last Thursday – crossover day – on SB 169, the embryo bill. The extended fight over the measure included some of the best, off-the-cuff rhetorical flourishes by some of the Senate’s best legal minds...you saw some primo lawyering from Sens. Preston Smith and David Adelman. They were on opposite sides, of course, but it’s all too rare a treat under the Gold Dome these days to watch two skilled, fired-up lawyers argue their “case.” I’d put that debate up against some of the best I’ve seen from Denny Groover, Tom Murphy and Roy Barnes." -Dick Pettys, editor of InsiderAdvantage Georgia (Associated Press capitol correspondent for 35 years.) "Covering the Session in 300 Words" March 16, 2009 “Smith is one the most level-headed, fairest, most statesman-like of those sent to Atlanta and that combination really makes him stand out from the crowd. He thinks things through, and for himself, and makes up his own mind. If that means bucking his party, he does. This newspaper doesn’t always agree with where Smith lands with his vote, but it admires the way he goes about representing his constituents ... and that he seems to know that all in his district are his constituents, not just the members of the same party..." -Rome News Tribune Editorial Board Elect the Steel Magnolias October 31, 2008 “Sen. Preston Smith, R-Rome, has emerged as a go-to guy for his colleagues about specific legal details and legislative mechanics, significant for someone just in his second term.” Walter Jones, bureau chief, Morris News Service, Insider Advantage Georgia ‘Analysis: Some Legislators Rising to the Top’ April 10, 2006. “Sen. Preston Smith, R-Rome, whose razzle-dazzle series of amendments on one of those right-to-life bills would earn him the “Denny Groover” award if there were such a prize to honor the late lawmaker who was faster than lightening with his amendment pen.” -Dick Pettys’ Insider Advantage Georgia Editorial Board, March 3, 2006 Preston “Smith, often viewed as a potential GOP statewide candidate, doesn’t want to be a career politician… As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee he’s been an effective floor leader, taking the main role in sponsoring tort reform..." Georgia Trend Magazine ‘The 100 Most Influential Georgians’ January 2006 Preston Smith is designated on the ‘Who’s Who’ list of statewide influential people in the fields of law and business. “Smith was first elected to the Georgia State Senate in 2002. He serves as chairman of the Judiciary Committee and serves on the Appropriations Committee and Health and Human Services Committee. Smith is also vice chairman of three Senate committees: Ethics, Retirement and Redistricting and Reapportionment. In 2004, The Georgia Republican Party designated Smith as the Legislator of the Year.” -Atlanta Business Chronicle, Who’s Who, September 30, 2005 “State Sen. Preston Smith, R-Rome, has served his constituents well — and shown that he wants to serve his constituents first … The second-term senator, while hardly yet falling into the ranks of being a “maverick,” has consistently shown a strong streak of independence if the definition of such is not always toeing the official party line… It really doesn’t matter whether one agrees with Smith’s positions or explanations when he goes along with his party or when he balks. The point is that he wants to be free to think for himself, to make up his own mind. This is an attitude and an approach to his position that will serve him well in the long run — and in seeking any true leadership positions in the future, particularly ones where ultimate allegiance should be to the best interests of all the people, not just a political party… Smith has done the right thing for himself. He appears to recognize that being true to one’s self is not something to ever barter away for any reason. In today’s political world, that makes him a treasure… That’s the way the process is supposed to work. The mindless goose-stepping so often evident in these times is the wrong way for representative government to function. Smith, by publicly breaking stride, has taken us all a step in the right direction. -Rome News-Tribune editorial board ‘Breaking Stride’ May 18, 2005 Preston Smith, designated as one of Georgia’s most influential leaders, “possesses a smart legal mind in the State Senate.” James Magazine ‘Georgia’s Most Influential People’ February 15, 2005 Since the day he arrived at the Legislature three years ago, Preston Smith has been talked about as a rising star. Smith was recruited by the Republican Party to run for his Senate seat and two years ago became the first freshman ever to serve as a governor's floor leader. He recently made Georgia Trend's "Forty under 40" list of movers and shakers. "He will either rise in the leadership here in the Senate or you'll see him in statewide office someday. You can smell it," said Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah), one of Smith's recruiters… -Atlanta Journal Constitution, ‘Groomed for greatness’ By Tom Baxter – Staff, February 7, 2005 “…To considerable extent, the current incumbent, Preston Smith of Rome, the Republican upset winner back in 2002, has proven to be a pleasant surprise — as well as occasionally infuriating in certain uncompromising viewpoints. His rise to both party and state prominence can only be called “meteoric.” Smith is the governor’s floor leader in the Senate, the GOP named him its 2004 Legislator of the Year, Georgia Trend magazine put him on its list of hotshot young up-and-comers. He even managed to get legislation of his own passed, unusual for a freshman, and not window-dressing junk either (a significant anti-truancy bill that strips driver’s licenses from dropouts, homeland security). At the same time he has proven to be reflective and his “own man” even when assuming a party leadership position. He follows his own heart and mind even when that forces him to oppose his own party. This newspaper’s disagreements with Smith have been several and will no doubt continue. At the same time, voters should appreciate that they have a representative of true integrity — a scarce commodity, it sometimes seems… …and even given the quality of his opponent in this [2004] race, local voters have strong reason to retain him both for performance and potential. Not only that, but his involvement in accomplishing purely local objectives has been extremely solid. Smith has indicated that he is not sure whether he wants to make politics “his life” nor has he been pleased with how he has found the political scene to work — if you like to eat sausage, don’t watch it being made. Given that most citizens believe there is more to life than politics, and that they’re generally not happy with how politics works either, Smith might well be described as a “man of the people.” Given how well the first installment of “Mr. Smith Goes to Atlanta” has worked out, it is worth filming a sequel. Preston Smith should be returned to the state Senate from District 52. -Rome News-Tribune editorial board, ‘Preston Smith: A Keeper’ October 22, 2004 “Preston Smith and 20 other young Georgia lawyers are making their mark in the law, politics and public service” Fulton County Daily Report ‘Fast Track’ August 23, 2004 “The gentle pressure of neighbors and business leaders persuaded Preston W. Smith to run for the State Senate in 2002. But no one in Rome and the six-county district north of Atlanta expected the then 29-year-old Rotarian and lawyer to become the star of the Republican tour de force. In 2002, Smith beat Democratic incumbent and Senate Majority Whip Richard Marable. One year later, he became the governor’s floor leader, the most junior senator in history to hold that position. Now 31, Smith recites chapter and verse on policy issues, from tort reform to homeland security. And he builds consensus across an often-divided Republican caucus that is moving up after 130 years riding steerage in the Democratic ship that was Georgia politics. Smith was picked as floor leader because he was so “impressive in his first session” explains Marty O. Klein, communications director for the Georgia Republican Party, which named Smith its 2004 Legislator of the Year. “I can’t even express how highly I regard him,” says Amanda D. Seals, chief of staff to Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson, R-Savannah. Seals says Smith is “sharp as a tack. He can read a bill, and spit it on the floor.” “Preston Smith has only been in the Senate for a short period, but he has already proven himself to be an outstanding leader,” said Gov. George E. “Sonny” Perdue, III. “As one of our state’s fastest rising starts, I tapped Preston to be my floor leader in just his second session under the Gold Dome, and he has exceeded all expectations.” …After the GOP took the Senate and governorship in 2002, Smith was one of the younger faces that emerged to lead the revitalized party. If Republicans can be divided into social and economic conservatives, Smith is clearly a leader of the former. An avid hunter, fisher and hiker, Smith says that’s something else he has in common with the Governor…. For two sessions, Smith took the lead in trying to push through reforms of Georgia’s medical liability laws, and came close to brokering a deal in feverish last-minute negotiations this year. Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, who negotiated for the House Democrats on tort reform, praises Smith’s political skills. “I felt that if the resolution of certain complex issues had been up to the two of us, we could have made progress,” she says... Fulton County Daily Report ’21 To Watch: The Right-Hand Man’ August 23, 2004 “Young politicians like Preston Smith are swiftly gaining real political power… Preston W. Smith, a Rome Republican and freshman senator, is, at 31, the youngest governor’s floor leader in Georgia history… It was that kind of [recruiting] effort that brought a young Smith into GOP politics. The unwitting lawyer was recruited to politics by members of his Rotary Club in Rome. Smith [is] the Senate wunderkind…” Fulton County Daily Report ’Changing of the Guard’ August 23, 2004 “In the spring of 2003, legislation was introduced in the Georgia General Assembly that would have given ownership of most of Georgia’s water resources to a small, select group of large industrial and agricultural interests. Senator Smith’s leadership helped to defeat the proposed legislation and ensure that our state’s water continues to be a public resource, available to every Georgian, Georgia business and Georgia landowner… Senator Smith deserves to be recognized for his efforts to stop this from happening.” Georgia Water Coalition November 11, 2003 Preston Smith is one of the young Republican trailblazers trying to rewrite Georgia’s political history as the state enters a new era: the beginning of a viable two-party political system.”… It hasn’t taken the attorney, college law teacher and youth minister long to assume leadership in the tort reform debate. And in August Smith became the first senator in Georgia’s history to be named Administration Floor Leader in his first term when Gov. Perdue appointed him to the task. “In a time when the media and the public often look on those in public service with disdain and skepticism, the youthful passions of next generation leaders like Preston Smith should give us hope,” says Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson. Smith, assistant deputy whip of the majority caucus, serves as vice chairman of the Ethics and Government Reform Committee and secretary of the Health and Human Services Committee. He sponsored or co-sponsored more than 50 bills and resolutions in his first few months in office. Georgia Trend Magazine 40 Under 40, The Best and Brightest Young Georgians October 2003 “Like the famous 1950’s movie, ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” Preston Smith, R-Rome, if forging a political trail that might just take him farther than he initially imagined when he decided to run for Georgia Senate a year ago. …Smith was named in August, 2003, as one of three Administration Floor Leaders in the Georgia Senate which was a history-making event because no other first term senator has ever been appointed as a floor leader… At age 30, Smith is the youngest member of the Georgia Senate.” The Summerville News, ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Atlanta’ By D.J. Lann – Staff, October 2, 20003 “Preston Smith was cool as a cucumber through it all. He’s a natural bearer of poise and grace. He looks the part of a senator and surely that of a future governor… He’s able to carry his platform into almost any kind of debate which is a sign of the ultimate prepared speaker. He’s well informed on current issues and seems sincere. Governor Perdue named him as one of three Senate floor leaders – another sign of Preston’s rising star. Personally, Sonny, I think you made an excellent choice. It seems obvious to me that Sen. Smith is going to be a significant force of political power… He’s already proven that he’s more than willing to work with the Democrats in North Georgia for the betterment of the state. He doesn’t appear to be the kind of fellow that anyone would label as their ‘boy’. I was proud of him during the last legislative session. He was directly involved with 27 pieces of proposed legislation and commendations dealing with important issues such as human cloning, (adopting rules to govern cloning and the Senate passed it) to Medicare prescription drug benefits... - The Summerville News, ‘Preston Smith, Impressive GA Leader’ By D.J. Lann – Staff, October 2, 20003 “Sen. Smith has made a considerable impression on me during his first year as a State Senator. His knowledge of Georgia law is significant and his leadership ability is without question.” -Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue August, 2003 This area’s new state senator, Preston W. Smith, enters public service with youth, energy, dedication and a clean slate… Smith indicates that he is more interested in serving his neighbors than his political party (Republican). That is a good attitude, for there will be times when the two allegiances will prove incompatible… Given his age (30) and his early entry into a position of power and prominence, that could be a very long career indeed. As Smith himself notes, venerable state figures such as Zell Miller, Roy Barnes and Max Cleland were both on the stump and podium at roughly the same age. A seventh-generation Georgian, an attorney, the youth minister at his church and an instructor at Floyd College, Smith is an unabashed political conservative. Indeed, he has actively promoted such causes and worked to instill such principles among young people. Such zeal is commendable… At the same time, what is most impressive in Smith is his optimism. He plainly believes he can get things done and resolve problems…. On education, he supports reform but wants parents, teachers and administrators calling the shots. He favors better compensation and tax credits for teachers … He supports the Northern Arc as well as the U.S. 411/I-75 link. He wants a stronger ethics code for state servants. He wants major offenders to serve their full sentences. He favors enterprise zones for economically depressed areas. Like Gov.-elect Sonny Perdue, he backs eliminating taxes on the retirement/unearned incomes of senior citizens. His opposition to Atlanta running everything in the state, his belief that the insurance, medical and prescription needs of seniors must be met are welcome, as are his general emphasis on reducing the tax burden while improving public services… -Rome News-Tribune editorial board, ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Atlanta’ November 28, 2002 |