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L. Harvey Smith

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Leonard Harvey Smith
Member of theNew Jersey General Assembly
from the31stdistrict
In office
January 8, 2008 – January 12, 2010
Serving withAnthony Chiappone
Preceded byLouis Manzo
Charles T. Epps Jr.
Succeeded byCharles Mainor
ActingMayor of Jersey City
In office
May 25, 2004 – November 11, 2004
Preceded byGlenn Cunningham
Succeeded byJerramiah T. Healy
Member of theNew Jersey Senate
from the31stdistrict
In office
November 24, 2003 – January 13, 2004
Preceded byJoseph Doria
Succeeded byGlenn Cunningham
Personal details
Born(1948-12-19)December 19, 1948(age 75)
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceJersey City, New Jersey
ProfessionTeacher

Leonard Harvey Smith(born December 19, 1948) is an AmericanDemocratic Partypolitician who has served in theGeneral Assemblyfrom January 8, 2008 to January 10, 2010, where he represented the31st legislative district.He is the former Acting Mayor ofJersey City,New Jerseyand previously served in theNew Jersey Senate.[1]He did not seek re-election in 2009.

Biography[edit]

Smith received aB.S.fromLong Island Universityin Health / Physical Education and anM.A.fromNew Jersey City Universityin Psychology / Counseling.[1]

Smith served in the Assembly on the Higher Education Committee and the Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee.[1]

A three-term Jersey City councilman who spent four years as City Council President, Smith served as Acting Mayor following the death of MayorGlenn Cunninghamin May 2004 until the certification of the results of a special election in November 2004. Smith ran in the special election to fill the remainder of Cunningham's term which expired in July 2005, but lost to JudgeJerramiah T. Healy.

In 2003, Smith ran against Cunningham for a seat in the New Jersey Senate representing parts of Jersey City and all ofBayonne.While endorsed by the Hudson County Democratic Organization, Smith lost in the primary to Cunningham. In October 2003, when State Sen.Joseph Charlesresigned early to become a state judge, Smith was selected by Democratic Party leaders to fill the remainder of Charles' Senate term until January 2004.[2]He was sworn into the Senate seat in November 2003.

Smith, a former teacher, was appointed as anUndersheriffofHudson Countyafter he left the State Senate. He took a leave as undersheriff to serve as acting mayor and then returned to the post. He did not seek reelection to the City Council in 2005.

In March 2007, Smith announced his campaign in the Democratic Primary for theState Assemblyon a ticket headed by former Jersey City First LadySandra Bolden Cunningham.Smith won a spot on the ballot in the June 2007 primary[3]and won an uncontested election in November 2007.[4]Smith served one term in the Assembly as a representative of the31st legislative district.

On June 8, 2009, Smith introduced a bill into the New Jersey State Assembly that would ban the use of GPS systems in cars.[5]

Operation Bid Rig[edit]

Main article:Operation Bid Rig

Smith was one of 44 individuals arrested on July 23, 2009, as part ofOperation Bid Rig,a joint operation of theFBI,IRS,and theU.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jerseyintopolitical corruptionandmoney laundering.Smith was charged with accepting $15,000 in bribes in exchange for obtaining approval of building plans.[6]

Despite call for Smith's resignation from GovernorJon Corzineand others, Smith has said that he would remain in office. In a letter sent to Assembly SpeakerJoseph J. Robertson August 6, 2009, Smith stated, "I believe that the resignation of my position as assemblyman is inconsistent with the presumption of innocence." Roberts, however, has said that he would suspend Smith's pay and benefits.[7]

On February 9, 2010, Smith was indicted for receiving $15,000 in bribes from a government informant.[8]He pleaded not guilty and planned to use anentrapmentdefense for the federal trial, scheduled to begin on November 29, 2010.[9]After a three-week trial, Smith was acquitted of all charges on December 16, 2010.[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcAssemblyman L. Harvey SmithArchived2017-03-04 at theWayback Machine,New Jersey Legislature.Accessed April 13, 2008.
  2. ^New Jersey Legislative DigestArchived2016-06-21 at theWayback Machinefor November 24, 2003. Accessed April 13, 2008. "Senator Joseph Charles, Jr., of the 31st Legislative District, has resigned effective August 18, 2003. L. Harvey Smith was sworn in as a member of the Senate for the 31st Legislative District."
  3. ^Chen, David W."Voters Send Mixed Signals to Democratic Organization in New Jersey Primaries",The New York Times,June 6, 2007. Accessed October 13, 2007.
  4. ^"31st Dist: Democrat victories for Cunningham, Smith, Chiappone",The Star-Ledger,November 6, 2007. Accessed December 27, 2007.
  5. ^State of New Jersey. 213th Legislaturethenewspaper.com
  6. ^Ryan, Joe."Feds charge 44 with corruption including two N.J. assemblymen, three mayors",The Star-Ledger,July 23, 2009. Accessed July 23, 2009.
  7. ^"Smith Won't Quit".Jersey Journal.August 7, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon October 6, 2012.RetrievedAugust 7,2009.
  8. ^Hayes, Melissa (February 9, 2010)."Former Jersey City assemblyman indicted on corruption, money laundering charges".Hudson County Now.New Jersey On-Line LLC.
  9. ^"Smith to use entrapment defense".The Jersey Journal.2010-10-30. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-10-13.Retrieved2010-11-03.
  10. ^"Ex-Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith is found not guilty of accepting $15K in bribes".The Star Ledger.2010-12-16.

External links[edit]

New Jersey Senate
Preceded by New Jersey State Senator
31st Legislative District
November 2003 – January 2004 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Jersey City
May– November 2004
as Acting Mayor 		Succeeded by
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