Former State Rep announces Senate candidacy
Former State Representative Garry L. Smith has announced that he has entered the race for state Senate for District 27.
At the 88th General Assembly, Smith served on the Arkansas Legislative Council, the Joint Budget Committee, Joint Energy Committee, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Oversight Committee, the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee: and the House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committeewhere he also serves on the subcommittee for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources.
Along with Union County, District 27 covers all of Ouachita Country, all of Calhoun County, the western two-thirds of Cleveland County and the southeastern corner of Grant County and into Jefferson County over to Pine Bluff and the southern corner of that area.
Smith formerly served as a Justice of the Peace of the Ouachita County Quorum Court and is a former Harmony Grove School Board member. Smith is a business owner and cattle farmer.
He and his wife, Rebecca, have three children: Kelly, Teresa and Aaron. The Smiths have five grandchildren.
Smith has been working for the Central Arkansas Development Council (CADC) since February of 2015, driving people to medical facilities.
“I am most grateful that I am ambulatory and in good health,” Smith said. “Good health is such a blessing. But I have been able to assist folks in need, and I fully appreciate the need for health insurance for our citizens.”
“I am pro-life and surely a supporter of the Second Amendment. I can work with all types of folks and I pledge to work diligently for District 27 constituents in a professional manner. I will not embarrass you, the voter, as I believe in ‘fair treatment for all,’” Smith continued.
Smith said he is running for office because he wants to serve his community.
“God made us to be of service to other people,” he stated. “All of us really are servants, and if we do our duty as servants, we can really make a difference.
“We may not all climb the mountain at the same time, but if we help each other, we can all get there,” he said. “I’m not running against the incumbent; I like to say that I’m running for the people so that I can be of benefit to others.”
Regarding the fighting between political parties, Smith said “I like to think that the people of Arkansas are better than that. It’s all about respect for one another. And if we respect each other, we will do the best we can for our fellowman.
“God bless you all, and God bless America,” he concluded.