Pat Smathers

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on August 6, 2007 - 5:09pm.
Tags:

Office District Status
Lt. Governor Statewide Candidate
Party In Office Since Term Ends
Democrat
Date of Birth Birthplace Now Lives In
January 8, 1954 Waynesville, NC Canton, NC

Synopsis

The son of a grocer and a store clerk, Smathers grew up in Canton. He's practiced civil and criminal law there, representing the Haywood County school board and community college, since 1979. In 1990, he ran for the state Senate, losing in a Democratic primary. In 1999, he ran for mayor of Canton and was re-elected in 2001, 2003 and 2005. In office, he worked on a downtown revitalization program, developed a sports complex and responded to flooding problems in 2004. He is running for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. 

Trivia

His great-great uncle is the brother of the man who was the inspiration for the main character in "Cold Mountain."

Endorsements

Biography

Marital Status
Married
Spouse
Sherry
Children
Zeb and Anna

Pat Smathers is the mayor of Canton and a candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.

Early Life and Education

Patrick Underwood Smathers was born on Jan. 8, 1954, in Waynesville.

He actively participated in athletics growing up in Canton.

He attended Duke University on an athletic scholarship, playing offensive line on the football team.

He earned a law degree from Wake Forest University in 1979 and a master's degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College in 2006. 

Military Service

Smathers spent 28 years in the National Guard.

Although he was never deployed on active duty,  he spent time training in the Phillippines, Japan and Europe.

He retired in August 2007 at the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Family 

He has been married to his wife, Sherry, since 1982.

His daughter, Anna, recently graduated from Appalachian State University and his son, Zeb, is attendng the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law. 

Political Career 

Smathers ran for state senate in 1990, losing to incumbant Clark Plexico.

He was first elected mayor of Canton in 1999 and was reelected in November 2007 to his fifth term. 

He is running for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.

He faces state Sen. Walter Dalton, former gubernatorial assistant Hampton Dellinger and Winston-Salem City Councilman Dan Besse in the primary. 

Occupation

Attorney
Self-employed
 Mayor of Canton, NC



Community Involvement:
Not specified.

Contact Info

Email: smathltg@bellsouth.net

Campaign office
118 Main St., Suite B, Canton, N.C. 28716
828-648-8240



Education

bachelor of science
Duke University
Graduated: 1976		 juris doctorate
Wake Forest University
Graduated: 1979		 master of science
U.S. Army War College
Graduated: 2006

Military

Years of service:
28		 Branch:
National Guard

Issues

How will you measure success in your first year in office?

I would measure it by how successful I can use the bully pulpit and the commissions in keeping the issues facing the state forefront. It's how effective I can be in leading our state government to address the important issues facing us right now.

Tell us about something you did for someone else.

There's so many things I've doen for people after the floods of 2004; that's probably teh biggest thing, helping rebuild the town.

What is the biggest challenge facing North Carolina? Your county? Your district?

From the state government side, the first one is going to be the economy. That's the immediate thing facing us because that's going to affect tax revenue and what people can do. That's going to have a very big effect on people's lives.

The long term would be education.

Links




http://www.patsmathers2008.com





N&O Profile:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Smathers






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