Bernell DorroughAs two men on Washington University’s campus are preparing for the local primaries set for August 2, they look forward to students playing a prominent role in the shaping of their community.
Jeff Smith, a Ph.D. candidate at the University, will compete with Mark Smith, a professor and associate dean of student services in the School of Law, in an effort to acquire a seat in the House of Representatives. Both candidates are hoping to replace Dick Gephardt as the representative for Missouri’s Third District when he vacates his seat for the next congressional term.
While this is Jeff Smith’s first political campaign and has been considered by some to be a long shot, he has gained a huge amount of momentum in the past few months and become a significant threat to opposing candidates. He has raised over $126,000 in campaign funds in the fourth quarter of 2003 while spending only $2,500 on fundraising efforts.
Jeff Smith has been able to keep campaign costs at a minimum by not using resources to hire top advisors or political analysts.
“The best campaigns spend the highest percentage of funds on direct communication with the public in the final months,” he said. “The worst organized campaigns spend the bulk of their funds on staff and consultants.”
According to Mark Smith, fundraising for his campaign continues to be a success.
“I’ve been doing a lot of events throughout the district in people’s homes and in businesses,” he said. “My fundraising has gone well, and I have about $100,000 in the bank right now. That doesn’t include any loans or general election money; it’s all money [set aside] for the primaries.”
Both Smiths are already distinguished leaders in the St. Louis community.
Jeff Smith teaches at Washington University, the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and in St. Louis public schools. After observing the decrepitude of some of the city’s public schools, Smith co-founded the Confluence Academies, a charter school for St. Louis youth.
In addition to his current position at the University, Mark Smith has served on the boards of multiple St. Louis organizations, including the St. Louis Police Department, the Downtown Children’s Center and the University’s Campus Y.
Jeff Smith’s campaign centers strongly on education reform, but he also has strong stances against concealed gun laws, new rounds of tax cuts, and the Bush administration’s environmental policies. He also supports a plan to reconsider America’s involvement in Iraq if, by 2005, Iraq still is not representative of a democratic society characterized by the “basic construction of civil society and rule of law combined with democratic participation in elections.”
Presenting himself as a steadfast liberal, Jeff Smith and his campaign workers hope to increase awareness of his candidacy and policies by canvassing different areas in St. Louis throughout the coming months.
According to his campaign website, Mark Smith is a “practical progressive who will represent Third District values while promoting meaningful, workable solutions to the challenges Missouri families face every day.” Having grown up in south St. Louis, he feels his blue-collar background will augment his ability to “provide practical, innovative solutions to the issues that matter to Missourians.”
Mark Smith and his campaign team remain actively engaged in the Third District community, holding meetings at numerous area locales.
In addition to the Missouri congressional elections, the seats of several officials are up for grabs in 2004, including those of the governor, a U.S. Senator, State Representatives, and the Secretary of State. Democrat Charles Berry is hoping to take the U.S. Senate seat from Republican incumbent Jim Talent. Democratic Governor Bob Holden will defend his position against a multiplicity of candidates from both the Republican and Independent parties.
Jeff Smith will lead a discussion on student action in politics at Ursa’s Fireside Lounge on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. Umrath, Liggett, and Koenig Residence Halls will host the event.