According to multiple sources and reports, Pennsylvania House Speaker Sam Smith (R-Jefferson) will retire at the end of this term.
Numerous elected officials and staff members in the state House, who asked not to be named, confirmed that Smith told members of leadership Monday that he would not seek another term.
He narrowly won a primary last cycle; his 2012 opponent has already declared for a rematch in 2014.
His retirement was first reported by Keystone Politics and echoed by Robert Vickers of the Patriot News.
The possibility that Smith could retire has floated around Harrisburg hallways for months, but seemingly was dispelled when his campaign began airing ads for re-election.
The news sent shockwaves through the House GOP on Monday night with members already preparing for the coming leadership battle – one that may set moderate eastern Pa. members against western Pa. conservatives.
Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) is likely to seek the position. Appropriations Chairman Bill Adolph (R-Delaware), Majority Whip Stan Saylor (R-York) and House Republican Campaign Committee chairman Dave Reed (R-Indiana) were among the names mentioned in early speculation as potential replacements – or opponents – for Turzai.
Smith has represented the 66th district since 1987; this was his second term as Speaker and he currently serves on the Rules Committee. He was elected Majority Whip in 2000, and from 2003 to 2010 was the leader of the House GOP.
His father, Eugene “Snuffy” Smith, represented the district from 1963 to 1985.
The seat encompasses parts of Armstrong, Indiana and Jefferson Counties. It’s deeply red, 55.1% GOP to 35.1% Dem. According to his bio, he’s the only Speaker to have been born and raised in Jefferson County.
He would have faced a tough re-election bid this year particularly after shepherding the transportation spending bill through the House. The bill increased funding for infrastructure projects and improvements but also yielded an increase in the gas tax. It’s unpopular with fiscal conservatives, and Smith would have faced one such conservative in the primary.
His 2012 opponent, Cris Dush, lost to him that year by a few hundred votes in a three-way primary. This year’s primary had been shaping up as a matchup between Smith and Dush only; the third candidate from 2012 has already backed Dush for 2014.
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7 Responses
Midnight voter, the gutless anonymous guttersnipe, as usual is all wet. Smith is a fine man who has devoted his life to trying — not always successfully — to make Pennsylvania better. He is honest and forthright, which is more than I can say for the cowardly dirtbag who just smeared him. Has he been superb? I think not. But has he worked to his ability? Yes.
Leader of the illegal midngiht pay raise. A sneaky, untrustworthy, lifetime freeloader. The very bottom of the PA cesspool.
Jim Brown says the people of PA want their government back. If we elect any more teabaggers to replace people like Sam Smith, there will be no government though. We will be back to the law of the jungle, exactly as they think the Founders wanted. But those brilliant, practical drafters of our Constitution will be rolling over in their graves.
It is good he is resigning. As Speaker he got very little accomplished. Poor leadership and bad policies. He will collect a generous pension though, more than most PA residents make in a year.
Leadership elections
Pro gas tax hike, anti liquor privatization, preserve the broken pension system union backed moderates will contest for leadership.
No wonder Pennsylvania is broken.
Voters should chose wisely in this years primaries.
Corbett protected Smith during “Computergate” and Smith handed Corbett a victory in the transportation bill. Politics as usual.
It’s no more politics as usual. The people of PA want their government back.