Republican Senator Fred Smith, a candidate for governor in 2008, will visit Elon University School of Law for a presentation in room 206 from 3:15-4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28. Elon Law Republicans will welcome Smith as a special guest at the afternoon tea which will immediately follow his presentation. All students, faculty, staff, and members of the Greensboro Bar Association are invited to attend. College Republicans from Elon University’s main campus and the Guilford County Young Republicans are also invited.
“We are honored to have Senator Smith visit with us and hear his encouraging platform of leadership, security, education, and economic prosperity,” said Barron Thompson, Elon Law Republican president. “We are uniquely blessed to be in a geographic and political position to hear from such accomplished state leaders as Senator Smith.”
After completing law school at Wake Forest University, Smith served as Captain in the United States Army JAG Corps for four years. He went on to become a successful attorney, entrepreneur, farmer/cattleman and homebuilder.
He has served as president of the North Carolina Cattleman’s Association and the Commercial Law League of America. Today his businesses provide more than 600 jobs in Wake and Johnston counties.
In 2002, Smith was elected to the first of three terms in the state Senate, where he has worked to increase government efficiency, create jobs, improve education and protect family values. In the 2007 session of the legislature, Smith introduced an amendment to the state Constitution defending traditional marriage in North Carolina. He has also worked to control spending priorities with the Taxpayer Protection Act.
“The Elon Law student body is excited about hosting one of North Carolina’s leading political figures,” said SBA President Chad Hinton. “Fred Smith’s experience as an attorney, a JAG officer, a businessman and a state senator provide a unique perspective on leadership and government from which we can all learn. We look forward to hearing his plans for the future of our state in his campaign for governor.”