- 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
2012Preceded by Renee Mire Michel Personal details Born December 23, 1951
Baton Rouge, LouisianaNationality 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]
Contents
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]
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c "Rep. M. J. "Mert" Smiley, Jr.". votesmart.org. http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=35499. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Louisiana primary election returns, October 4, 2003". staticresults.sos.la.gov. http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10042003/10042003_Legislative.html. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
- ^ "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 BerthelotPreceded by
Renee Mire MichelAscension Parish Assessor M. J. "Mert" Smiley, Jr.
2012– (pending)Succeeded by
IncumbentMembers of the Louisiana House of Representatives Speaker of the House: Jim Tucker (R) • Speaker pro Tempore: Joel Robideaux (R) - Jim Morris (R)
- Roy A. Burrell (D)
- Barbara Norton (D)
- Patrick Williams (D)
- Alan Seabaugh (R)
- Thomas G. Carmody (R)
- Richard Burford (R)
- Jane H. Smith (R)
- Henry Burns (R)
- Jean M. Doerge (D)
- Rick Gallot (D)
- Hollis Downs (R)
- James R. Fannin (D)
- Sam Little (R)
- Frank Hoffmann (R)
- Kay Katz (R)
- Rosalind Jones (D)
- Major Thibaut (D)
- Bubba Chaney (R)
- Noble Ellington (R)
- Andy Anders (D)
- Billy Chandler (R)
- Rick Nowlin (R)
- Frank A. Howard (R)
- Chris Roy, Jr. (D)
- Herbert Dixon (D)
- Chris Hazel (R)
- Robert Johnson (D)
- Regina Barrow (D)
- James Armes (D)
- Nancy Landry (R)
- Dorothy Sue Hill (D)
- Mike Danahay (D)
- A. B. Franklin (D)
- Brett Geymann (R)
- Chuck Kleckley (R)
- John E. Guinn (R)
- Bernard LeBas (D)
- Bobby Badon (D)
- Ledricka Thierry (D)
- Mickey Guillory (D)
- Jack Montoucet (D)
- Page Cortez (R)
- Rickey Hardy (D)
- Joel Robideaux (R)
- Mike "Pete" Huval (R)
- Bob Hensgens (R)
- Taylor Barras (R)
- Simone B. Champagne (R)
- Sam Jones (D)
- Joe Harrison (R)
- Gordon Dove (R)
- Damon Baldone (D)
- Jerry Gisclair (D)
- Jerome Richard (I)
- Gary Smith (D)
- Nickie Monica (R)
- Elton Aubert (D)
- Eddie J. Lambert (R)
- Karen St. Germain (D)
- Michael Jackson (I)
- Tom McVea (R)
- Avon Honey (D)
- Bodi White (R)
- Clif Richardson (R)
- Hunter Greene (R)
- Patricia Smith (D)
- Steve Carter (R)
- Erich Ponti (R)
- Franklin Foil (R)
- J. Rogers Pope (R)
- John Bel Edwards (D)
- Steve Pugh (R)
- Scott Simon (R)
- Harold Ritchie (D)
- Kevin Pearson (R)
- John Schroder (R)
- Kirk Talbot (R)
- Tony Ligi (R)
- Joseph Lopinto (R)
- John LaBruzzo (R)
- Cameron Henry (R)
- Robert Billiot (D)
- Patrick Connick (R)
- Ricky Templet (R)
- Jim Tucker (R)
- Girod Jackson (D)
- Mert Smiley (R)
- Timothy Burns (R)
- Greg Cromer (R)
- Walt Leger (D)
- Tom Willmott (R)
- Helena Moreno (D)
- Nicholas Lorusso (R)
- Walker Hines (R)
- Juan LaFonta (D)
- Jared Brossett (D)
- Neil Abramson (D)
- Charmaine Stiaes (D)
- Austin Badon (D)
- Wesley Bishop (D)
- Jeff Arnold (D)
- Reed Henderson (D)
- Nita Hutter (R)
- Ernest Wooton (I)
Republican (55) • Democratic (46) • Independent (4) • Louisiana Legislature • Louisiana House of Representatives • Louisiana State Senate Categories:- 1951 births
- Living people
- American Roman Catholics
- Louisiana Republicans
- Members of the Louisiana House of Representatives
- People from Ascension Parish, Louisiana
- American businesspeople
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