Lamar S. Smith

Infobox_Congressman
name = Lamar Seeligson Smith


date of birth = birth date and age|1947|11|19
place of birth = San Antonio, Texas
state = Texas
district = 21st
term = 1987–present
preceded = Tom Loeffler
succeeded = Incumbent
party = Republican
spouse =Elizabeth Lynn Schaefer
religion = Christian Science
occupation= attorney
alma_mater= Southern Methodist University, Yale University
residence= San Antonio, Texas

Lamar Seeligson Smith (born November 19 1947) is a politician from the state of Texas, currently representing the state's 21st congressional district ( [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/tx21_109.gifmap] ) in the United States House of Representatives as a Republican.

Biography

Smith was born in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from , Yale University and Southern Methodist University Law School. He practiced law as an attorney before entering politics. Smith is a Christian Scientist. His wife, Elizabeth Lynn Schaefer is a Christian Science practitioner and teacher and currently serves as Second Reader at The First Church of Christ, Scientist or "The Mother Church" in Boston, Massachusetts.

Political offices in Texas

Smith was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1980. He served as Bexar County, Texas commissioner from 1982 to 1985.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

Smith was elected to the House of Representatives in 1986.

In 2002, Smith received 73 percent of the vote against college administrator John Courage. Smith got 62 percent in 2004 to defeat then-Democrat Rhett Smith, a consultant who ran for governor as a Republican in 2006.

House district boundaries were changed in 2001, in 2003, and again in 2006. In November 2006 the Texas Legislative Council Gary Martin, [http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA020806.en.POLcourage.bush.a7b1b44.html "Courage, other veterans speak out against Bush"] , "San Antonio Express-News", February 8, 2006.] found that nearly two-thirds of voters in District 21 cast ballots for statewide Republican candidates in 2004. In the November 2006 open election, Smith faced six candidates: college administrator and veteran John Courage, a Democrat; retired Air Force officer Gene Kelly, 80, also a Democrat, who is a frequent candidate; three independents: Tommy Calvert Jr., 25, a San Antonio consultant and community activist, James Lyle Peterson, 57, a computer programmer in Austin, and Mark Rossano, 57, service manager for an Austin automobile dealership; and Libertarian James Arthur Strohm, a technical writer living in Austin.Greg Jefferson, [http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA090406.01B.congresssmith.2ccea81.html "Remap is looking good for incumbent Smith"] , "San Antonio Express-News", September 3, 2006.] Smith won reelection, taking 60% of the vote. ^{[http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe]}

Political positions

DMCA

On April 23, 2006, CNet reported that Smith was introducing a bill that "would expand the DMCA's restrictions on software that can bypass copy protections and grant federal police more wiretapping and enforcement powers." [Declan McCullagh , [http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6064016.html?part=rss&tag=6064016&subj=news "Congress readies broad new digital copyright bill"] , CNet, April 24, 2006.] The controversial move sparked a negative response among technology enthusiasts in opposition to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Committee assignment

Smith is the ranking Republican member of the Judiciary Committee and a member of the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.

References

External links

* [http://lamarsmith.house.gov/ U.S. Congressman Lamar Smith] official House site
* [http://www.texansforlamarsmith.com/ Lamar Smith for Congressman] official campaign site
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Lamar_Smith Profile] at SourceWatch Congresspedia