Mert Smiley

M. J. "Mert" Smiley, Jr.
Louisiana State Representative from District 88 (Ascension and Livingston parishes; in 2012 only Ascension Parish)
In office 2004 – 2012 (pending)
Preceded by	Tom Capella (then Jefferson Parish)
Succeeded by	Johnny Berthelot
Ascension Parish Assessor
Incumbent
Assumed office 2012
Preceded by	Renee Mire Michel
Personal details
Born	December 23, 1951 (1951-12-23) (age 59) Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Ina Smiley
Residence	St. Amant Ascension Parish, Louisiana
Alma mater	East Ascension High School Ford Marketing Institute
Occupation	Automobile dealer
Religion	Roman Catholic

M. J. "Mert" Smiley, Jr. (born December 23, 1951), is an automobile dealer from St. Amant, Louisiana, who is a departing two-term Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 88, which encompasses Ascension and Livingston parishes in the outlying Baton Rouge area. In 2012, the district becomes based only in Ascension Parish.^[1]

Background

A Baton Rouge native, Smiley graduated in 1969 from East Ascension High School. After years in the work force, he attended the Ford Marketing Institute in 1984. Since 1994, he has owned the used car dealership, Smiley Enterprises, Inc., in St. Amant. From 1981 to 1994, he was sales manager at All-Star Ford in Denham Springs in Livingston Parish. Smiley is affiliated with Rotary International, the Chamber of Commerce, and the National Federation of Independent Businesses. He is Roman Catholic. His wife is Ina Smiley.^[2]

Legislative matters

Smiley calls himself a "fiscal conservative." As a member of the House since 2004, in an effort to trim state spending, he supported the abolition of more than 125 state commissions and boards. He also voted against the Stelly Plan, a tax transfer scheme named for former Representative Vic Stelly of Calcasieu Parish.^[3]

Smiley barely led the field in the 2003 nonpartisan blanket primary for House District 88, formerly held under a different districting plan by Republican Tom Capella in Jefferson Parish. Smiley polled 4,678 votes (31.4 percent) and faced a general election with the Democrat Ralph L. Willie of Livingston, who polled 4,581 votes (30.7 percent). Two other Republicans, Paul Henderson and Michael J. "Mike" Muller, and an Independent, Willis Blackwell, held the remaining but critical 38 percent.^[4] Smiley then defeated Willie, 8,259 (54 percent) to 7,014 (46 percent).^[5] Smiley was unopposed for reelection in the primary held on October 20, 2007.

Smiley served on these House committees: (1) Appropriations, (2) Budget, (3) House and Governmental Affairs as vice chair, (4) Judiciary, (5) Subcommittee on Infrastructure and Resources, and (6) Subcommittee on Public Safety and Corrections.^[2] In 2010, Smiley was rated 100 percent by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and the Louisiana Right to Life Federation. He drew 90 percent from the Louisiana Family Forum, ten points lower than his perfect score in 2009.^[2]

Assessor election

In the primary held on October 22, 2011, Smiley did not seek reelection to the House in the revised District 88 but instead unseated the two-term Ascension Parish Assessor Renee Mire Michel, a Democrat. Smiley received 11,736 votes (50.3 percent) to Michel's 11,592 ballots (49.7 percent).^[1] Smiley vowed if elected to "offer the fair, transparent and pro-business approach that Ascension Parish voters deserve," regarding property taxes.^[3]

Louisiana portal

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Louisiana primary election returns, October 22, 2011". staticresults.sos.la.gov. http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10222011/10222011_Legislative.html. Retrieved October 22, 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Rep. M. J. "Mert" Smiley, Jr.". votesmart.org. http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=35499. Retrieved August 28, 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Running for Office : M.J. "Mert" Smiley, Jr.". Baton Rouge Morning Advocate. http://theadvocate.com/news/294547-63/running-for-office.html. Retrieved August 28, 2011. 
4. ^ "Louisiana primary election returns, October 4, 2003". staticresults.sos.la.gov. http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10042003/10042003_Legislative.html. Retrieved August 28, 2011. 
5. ^ "Louisiana general election returns, November 15, 2003". staticresults.sos.la.gov. http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11152003/11152003_Legislative.html. Retrieved August 28, 2011. 

Louisiana House of Representatives
Preceded by Tom Capella (then Jefferson Parish)	Louisiana State Representative from District 88 (Ascension and Livingston parishes; in 2012, only Ascension Parish) M. J. "Mert" Smiley, Jr. 2004–2012 (pending)	Succeeded by Johnny Berthelot
Preceded by Renee Mire Michel	Ascension Parish Assessor M. J. "Mert" Smiley, Jr. 2012– (pending)	Succeeded by Incumbent

Persondata
Name	Smiley, Jr., M. J. "Mert"
Alternative names	Mert Smiley
Short description	Member of Louisiana State Legislature
Date of birth	December 23, 1951
Place of birth	Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Date of death
Place of death