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Ras Smith
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 62nd district
In office
January 9, 2017 – January 8, 2023
Preceded by Deborah Berry
Succeeded by Jerome Amos
Personal details
Born
RasTafari Smith

(1987-12-29) December 29, 1987 (age 36)
Waterloo, Iowa, U.S.
Political party Democratic
SpouseAmelia
Children2
Education Wartburg College
Iowa State University
University of Northern Iowa ( BS)

RasTafari I. "Ras" Smith (born December 29, 1987) is an American politician from Iowa. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 2017 to 2023, as a legislator from District 62.

Personal life, education, and early career

RasTafari Smith was named for the royal title and given name of Haile Selassie. [1] The name was selected by his mother, Belinda Creighton-Smith, a pastor. [1] Smith's father L. C. is a retired factory worker for John Deere. [2] [3] His brothers include Rameses and Myron. [1] Smith is married to Amelia, an educator, with whom he has two children. [1]

Smith was raised in northeast Waterloo, Iowa, and attended Northern University High School in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He enrolled at Wartburg College and Iowa State University before completing a bachelor's degree in exercise science at the University of Northern Iowa. Smith then worked as the strength and conditioning coach at Waterloo East High School and volunteered as a member of the high school's American football coaching staff. He left East High to work at a Target Corporation distribution center, then joined Four Oaks, a special education program, as a counselor and later, shift leader. During his time at Four Oaks, Smith worked toward a master's degree in leisure, youth and human services from the University of Northern Iowa. After completing his master's degree, Smith began working for Communities In Schools. [2]

Smith is a Baptist. [3]

Political career

After Deborah Berry announced her retirement, her seat in District 62 was left open. [3] Smith contested that seat in 2016 as a Democratic Party candidate, [3] defeating Republican Party candidate Todd Obadal and political independent John Patterson. [4] [5] Smith was reelected in 2018 and 2020, both times uncontested. [6]

On June 15, 2021, Smith announced that he would run for governor of Iowa in 2022. [7] [8] He suspended his campaign in January 2022, citing lack of funds. [9] A month later, Smith stated that he would not be running for reelection to the state legislature. [6] As a result of redistricting prior to the 2022 state legislative elections, Smith's residence was placed in House District 61, a seat held by Timi Brown-Powers. [10] In April 2022, Smith joined Michael T. Franken's United States Senate campaign. [11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Schouten, Fredreka (January 2020). "'Being black isn't enough'". CNN. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Wind, Andrew (January 2, 2018). "Ras Smith: Striving to support students, constituents". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d Crippes, Christina (March 17, 2016). "UPDATED: Waterloo State Rep. Berry won't seek re-election". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  4. ^ Crippes, Christina (August 20, 2016). "Republican Todd Obadal running in District 62". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  5. ^ Cripes, Christina (August 5, 2016). "Patterson makes bid for House District 62 seat". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Smith, legislator from Waterloo, will not seek re-election". KCRG-TV. February 5, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022. Republished by KYOU-TV
  7. ^ "State Rep. Ras Smith announces campaign for Iowa governor". KYOU-TV. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  8. ^ Gruber-Miller, Stephen; Pfannenstiel, Brianne (June 15, 2021). "'There is a place for you here': Democratic state Rep. Ras Smith to run for Iowa governor in 2022". Des Moines Register. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  9. ^ Gruber-Miller, Stephen (January 5, 2022). "Democrat Ras Smith suspends campaign for Iowa governor". Des Moines Register. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  10. ^ Perreault, Daniel (February 5, 2022). "Ras Smith says he won't seek reelection in Iowa House". KWWL. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  11. ^ "CAMPAIGN ALMANAC: Ras Smith joins Franken's campaign". The Gazette. April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022. Republished by the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ras Smith.
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