Thomas S. Smith (New Jersey)

Thomas S. Smith (born December 14, 1917-September 26, 2002) was an American Republican Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1992 until his death, where he represented the 11th legislative district. [http://web.archive.org/web/20021108003448/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/smitht.asp Tom Smith's legislative web page] , New Jersey Legislature, backed up by the Internet Archive as of November 8, 2008. Accessed April 23, 2008.] At the time of his deat, Smith was the oldest serving member of the Assembly and was the only African American Republican in the New Jersey Legislature. [via Associated Press. [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-68006793.html "Thomas S. Smith, N.J.'s only black GOP legislator"] , "The Record (Bergen County)", September 28, 2002. Accessed April 23, 2008.]

In the Assembly, he was the Deputy Speaker from 1998-2001, Majority Whip from 1996-1998 and the Assistant Majority Whip in 1996. He served in the Assembly on the Senior Issues Committee.

Smith served on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission from 1995 until his death, the New Jersey Commission on Discrimination in Public Procurement and Construction in 1992 and the Monmouth County Volunteers in Probation Board of Directors in 1992. He was the Mayor of Asbury Park from 1989 to 1993, served on the Asbury Park Council from 1985-89 and was Asbury Park Police Chief from 1968-79. He served in the United States Army from 1942-45, attaining the rank of First Sergeant.

District 11 Republican County Committee members voted to fill the vacancy created by Smith's death by naming Sean T. Kean to fill the seat. [ [http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_action=doc&p_docid=0F6FBEEF37D980A4&p_docnum=41&p_queryname=NaN&p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated4&p_nbid=E4CP4BCCMTE4NTg0NzQ0OS4yODY4NjU6MTo3OnJhLTE4ODg "Trenton Roundup"] , "Newark Star-Ledger", October 29, 2002. Accessed August 9, 2007. "Sean T. Kean, a Monmouth County Republican Party activist from Wall Township, was sworn in yesterday as an assemblyman from the 11th District. Kean, 39, replaces Assemblyman Thomas S. Smith, who died Sept. 26 at age 84."]

Smith attended Howard University, majoring in Education.

References

External links

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20021108003448/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/smitht.asp Tom Smith's legislative web page] , New Jersey Legislature, backed up by the Internet Archive as of November 8, 2008