Changes

==Political life==

==Political life==

Smith ran unsuccessfully in 2003 for the District 18 seat in the Louisiana State Senate.<ref name=pvs/> In 2007, she finished second in the [[nonpartisan blanket primary]] for House District 67 with 2,415 votes (36 percent). The leading candidate, Democrat Lorri Ann Burgess (born January 1963) of Baton Rouge, received 2,598 votes (38.7 percent). The third-place finisher, Democrat David Brown, polled 1,705 votes (25.4), enough to prevent either Burgess or Smith from winning.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> Smith defeated Burgess in the runoff election, called the [[general election]] in Louisiana though both candidates may be of the same party. In a low-turnout contest, Smith polled 2,793 votes (55.2 percent) to Burgess's 2,271 (44.9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref>

Smith ran unsuccessfully in 2003 for the District 18 seat in the Louisiana State Senate.<ref name=pvs/> In 2007, she finished second in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] for House District 67 with 2,415 votes (36 percent). The leading candidate, Democrat Lorri Ann Burgess (born January 1963) of Baton Rouge, received 2,598 votes (38.7 percent). The third-place finisher, Democrat David Brown, polled 1,705 votes (25.4), enough to prevent either Burgess or Smith from winning.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> Smith defeated Burgess in the runoff election, called the [[general election]] in Louisiana though both candidates may be of the same party. In a low-turnout contest, Smith polled 2,793 votes (55.2 percent) to Burgess's 2,271 (44.9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 17, 2007.</ref>

Smith faced a re-match with Burgess in 2011. Again with a low turnout, Smith prevailed, 2,916 votes (61.1 percent) to 1,854 (38.9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref> Burgess had also run unsuccessfully for the House in 2003, when she lost to Yvonne Dorsey Welch, Smith's predecessor in the seat.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref>

Smith faced a re-match with Burgess in 2011. Again with a low turnout, Smith prevailed, 2,916 votes (61.1 percent) to 1,854 (38.9 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref> Burgess had also run unsuccessfully for the House in 2003, when she lost to Yvonne Dorsey Welch, Smith's predecessor in the seat.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref>

In 2013, Smith voted to reduce penalties for the possession of [[marijuana]]. She did not vote on the issue of permanent concealed carry gun permits but in 2014 opposed the use of such permits in restaurants that serve alcohol. She opposed keeping information on concealed carry permits confidential and out of the public record. She voted to increase judicial pay and to end the mandatory retirement age for judges. She co-sponsored an "equal pay" plan for state employees. In 2012, she sponsored legislation to provide for [[parole]] eligibility for non-violent inmates. She voted to prohibit the use of telephones while driving and in 2011 opposed the holding of hand-held devices while driving. She opposed state tax incentives to recruit a [[National Basketball Association]] team to Louisiana and also opposed state income tax deductions for taxpayers donating to scholarship funds. She opposed reducing the number of hours that polling locations remain open; Louisiana has traditionally had 14-hour polling days.<ref name=votingrecords/>

In 2013, Smith voted to reduce penalties for the possession of [[marijuana]]. She did not vote on the issue of permanent concealed carry gun permits but in 2014 opposed the use of such permits in restaurants that serve alcohol. She opposed keeping information on concealed carry permits confidential and out of the public record. She voted to increase judicial pay and to end the mandatory retirement age for judges. She co-sponsored an "equal pay" plan for state employees. In 2012, she sponsored legislation to provide for [[parole]] eligibility for non-violent inmates. She voted to prohibit the use of telephones while driving and in 2011 opposed the holding of hand-held devices while driving. She opposed state tax incentives to recruit a [[National Basketball Association]] team to Louisiana and also opposed state income tax deductions for taxpayers donating to scholarship funds. She opposed reducing the number of hours that polling locations remain open; Louisiana has traditionally had 14-hour polling days.<ref name=votingrecords/>

In 2011, Smith voted for a permanent tax on [[cigarette]]s. That year she sponsored the bill for parole eligibility for elderly inmates. She supported a failed bill which proposed to halt [[bullying]] in public schools. She opposed the  requirement for drug testing of welfare recipients. She voted against the establishment of a commission to develop a plan to abolish the state income tax. She opposed the redistricting bill for both the state Senate and the [[United States House of Representatives|congressional]] delegations.<ref name=votingrecords/>  

In 2011, Smith voted for a permanent tax on [[cigarette]]s. That year she sponsored the bill for parole eligibility for elderly inmates. She supported a failed bill which proposed to halt [[bullying]] in public schools. She opposed the  requirement for drug testing of welfare recipients. She voted against the establishment of a commission to develop a plan to abolish the state income tax. She opposed the redistricting bill for both the state Senate and the [[United States House of Representatives|congressional]] delegations.<ref name=votingrecords/>

 

==References==

==References==

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