Rod Smith (politician)

Rod Smith


Member of the Florida Senate from the 14 district
In office 2000 - 2006
Personal details
Born	(1949-11-15) November 15, 1949 (age 67) Southwest City, Missouri
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Dee Dee Smith, esq.
Profession	Attorney
Religion	Baptist

Rodney Warren Smith (born November 15, 1949) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Florida. A Democrat, Smith was a member of the Florida Senate from Gainesville from 2001 until 2006. Smith ran for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Florida in the 2006 election but lost to Congressman Jim Davis. In 2010, Smith was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Florida as the running mate of Alex Sink in her campaign for Governor of Florida. From November 2010 through January 2013 Smith served as chairman of the Florida Democratic Party. In 2016, Smith again ran for a seat in the Florida Senate but was ultimately defeated by Keith Perry, a Republican and former State Representative.

Smith was born on November 15, 1949, in Southwest City, Missouri, just across the state line from his family's home in Oklahoma. Before he reached the age of two, Smith's family moved to Florida, where they grew eggplant and green peppers. Smith attended public schools. He attended the University of Tulsa, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1971. While at the University of Tulsa, he was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. He then attended the University of Florida College of Law graduating with a law degree in 1975.