L. Harvey Smith

L. Harvey Smith is an American Democratic Party politician who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since January 8, 2008, where he represents the 31st legislative district. He is the former Acting Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey and previously served in the New Jersey Senate. [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=292 Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith] , New Jersey Legislature. Accessed April 13, 2008.]

Smith serves in the Assembly on the Higher Education Committee and the Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee.

A three-term Jersey City councilman who spent four years as City Council President, Smith served as Acting Mayor following the death of Mayor Glenn Cunningham in May 2004 until the certification of the results of a special election in November 2004. Smith ran in the special election to fill the remainder of Cunningham's term which expired in July 2005, but lost to Judge Jerramiah T. Healy.

In 2003, Smith ran against Cunningham for a seat in the New Jersey Senate representing parts of Jersey City and all of Bayonne. While endorsed by the Hudson County Democratic Organization, Smith lost in the primary to Cunningham. In October 2003, when State Sen. Joseph Charles resigned early to become a state judge, Smith was selected by Democratic Party leaders to fill the remainder of Charles' Senate term until January 2004. [ [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/digest/20031124.htm New Jersey Legislative Digest] for November 24, 2003. Accessed April 13, 2008. "Senator Joseph Charles, Jr., of the 31st Legislative District, has resigned effective August 18, 2003. L. Harvey Smith was sworn in as a member of the Senate for the 31st Legislative District."] He was sworn into the Senate seat in November 2003.

Smith, a former teacher, was appointed as an Undersheriff of Hudson County after he left the State Senate. He took a leave as undersheriff to serve as acting mayor and then returned to the post. He did not seek reelection to the City Council in 2005.

In March 2007, Smith announced his campaign in the Democratic Primary for the State Assembly on a ticket headed by former Jersey City First Lady Sandra Bolden Cunningham. Smith won a spot on the ballot in the June 2007 primary [Chen, David W. [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/06/nyregion/06elect.html "Voters Send Mixed Signals to Democratic Organization in New Jersey Primaries"] , "The New York Times", June 6, 2007. Accessed October 13, 2007.] and won an uncontested election in November 2007. [ [http://www.nj.com/elections/index.ssf/2007/11/31st_dist_democrats_face_littl.html "31st Dist: Democrat victories for Cunningham, Smith, Chiappone"] , "The Star-Ledger", November 6, 2007. Accessed December 27, 2007.] Smith will join the Assembly as a representative of the 31st legislative district in 2008.

Smith received a B.S. from Long Island University in Health / Physical Education and an M.A. from New Jersey City University in Psychology / Counseling.

District 31

Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The other representatives from the 31st District for the 2008-2009 Legislative Session are:
*Senator Sandra Bolden Cunningham, and
*Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone

References

External links

* [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=292 Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith] , New Jersey Legislature
*"New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms"
**{http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/SmithL2007.pdf 2007]