Democratic nominee hopeful for governor Alex Sink has announced that former state senator and gubernatorial candidate Rod Smith will be her running mate for the general election contest.
ROD SMITH
Born: Nov. 15, 1949
Education: University of Tulsa and University of Florida College of Law
Family: Smith is married to Dee Dee Smith. The couple has one child together and each has one separately from previous marriages.
Current Job: Special Counsel to Avera & Smith, a Gainesville Law Firm
Career Highlights: Smith served as state attorney for the eighth judicial circuit from 1993 to 2000 when he was elected to the state Senate. He ran for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2006, losing to former U.S. Rep. Jim Davis. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Santa Fe Community College and University of Florida.
Legislative Accomplishments: Smith was relatively well-liked on both sides of the aisle, and generally considered a moderate. Though a member of the Democratic Party, he had a strong record on gun rights and other law and order issues. In 2006, when a 14-year-old boy died in state custody, Smith announced legislation to close Department of Juvenile Justice boot camps. He also helped spearhead a coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans that resisted a push by then Gov. Jeb Bush to weaken the state’s class size amendment.