Eric H. Smith

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on April 2, 2008 - 12:45pm.
Tags:

Office District Status
School Superintendt. Statewide Candidate
Party In Office Since Term Ends
Republican
Level of Government  
 
Date of Birth Birthplace Now Lives In
September 4, 1974 Winston-Salem, NC Reidsville, NC

Synopsis

Eric H. Smith became a mushroom farmer in 2002. In 2004 and 2006, he worked for Vernon Robinson's Congressional campaigns, and in 2006, he ran unsuccessfully for the Rockingham County school board. In 2008, he ran for the Republican nomination for superintendent of public instruction, losing to former House Co-Speaker Richard Morgan.

Trivia

His middle name comes from a character on "The Big Valley." 

Endorsements

Biography

Marital Status
Married
Spouse
Kelly
Children
Sons, Christopher and Jared

Eric H. Smith is a former candidate for the Republican nomination for state superintendent of public instruction.

Early Life and Education

Eric Heath Smith was born Sept. 4, 1974, in Winston-Salem to Rev. Rodney and Carol Smith.

His father is pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Thomasville and an Instructor at Forsyth Technical Community College. His mother is a retired substitute teacher at Pilot Elementary School.

He graduated from Thomasville High School in 1992. In high school, he belonged to a group of skateboarders who called themselves the Potsmokers Club.

He then attended Forsyth Technical Community College. 

He then went to flight training at Causey Aviation in Siler City and at Piedmont Aviation in Winston-Salem.  

Professional Career

After school, he worked in commercial aviation management for Continental Airlines for six years.

He has also worked as a pest control and termite consultant for Home Team Pest Defense. 

He now runs 60-acre Shady Log Farms growing shiitake mushrooms in the Ruffin community of Rockingham County.

Family

His son, Christopher, attends St. John's Lutheran in Winston-Salem, a private school.

Another son is at Reidsville Baptist, a private school daycare. 

Political Career

He was chairman of Darryl Clements' Congressional campaign in Texas in 2000 and a Republican nominee for local office in Hayes County, Texas, in 2002.

In 2004 and 2006, he was the Rockingham County grassroots coordinator for Vernon Robinson's Congressional campaigns.

He ran unsuccessfully for school board in Rockingham County in 2006. While campaigning, he argued that the federal No Child Left Behind law is unconstitutional and said he disagrees with school dress codes.

In a YouTube ad in that race, he said that "public schools are pretty much turning our children into robots," while Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall" played.

In 2008, he filed to run for the 65th District seat held by Democratic Rep. Nelson Cole in the state House of Representatives in 65th District. 

He later withdrew and refiled for the Republican nomination for superintendent of public instruction, facing former House Co-Speaker Richard Morgan and Tryon resident Joe Johnson.

He campaigned for school choice and more accountability and against illegal immigration, coming in second to Morgan, with 25 percent of the vote.

Research and reporting by Ryan Teague Beckwith. 

Occupation

Farmer
Co-owner of Shady Log Farms





Community Involvement:
 Member of the board of trustees of Leaksville Moravian Church in Eden; Member of Eden ‘s Cooperative Christian Ministries, a food bank. Volunteer for the Wild Turkey Federation in Rockingham County and is a supporter of Ducks Unlimited.

Contact Info

Email: eric@smithfornckids.com

Campaign headquarters
144 Benton Rd., Reidsville, N.C.
336-939-1027



Education


Attended Forsyth Technical Community College



Military

Years of service:
1 week		 Branch:
Coast Guard

Links




http://www.smithfornckids.com/





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