Former Yavapai County District 5 Supervisor Jack Smith filed a letter of interest on March 8 and plans to form a committee within the coming weeks to run in the Republican primary for the U.S. House District 2 seat held by incumbent Rep. Eli Klain. [R].
Smith served on the Board of Supervisors from 2012 until July 2019, when he was appointed director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Arizona Department of Rural Development. He was replaced in that position by current Supervisor Mary Mallory. [R-District 5].
“I am a former football coach in my local community and a proud leader in Yavapai County and across the state,” Smith said.[For] For me, the greatest achievement is, without a doubt, my family.”
Following his work at USDA, Mr. Smith worked as a risk and safety manager at Yavapai College and served as an administrator for the Arizona Department of Administration's School Facilities Division for two and a half years. Mr. Smith served in the U.S. Army from 1989-1993.
“My knowledge of the Federation [government] Changed [since] “Being with the Trump administration has allowed me to go to every corner of Arizona,” Smith said. [tribal] The state takes action, schools are established, community centers and gas stations are built. [and] I'm working towards economic development… I've certainly grown since I was a county supervisor and I know how the federal government works. I honestly think if you really put your mind to it and put your mind to it, you can make a big impact. I did that as a county supervisor. That's what I want to do as a legislator.”
One way Smith sees stimulating economic development is to sell federal land to private owners.
“Arizona has a lot of federal land,” Smith said. “One of the questions I always had as a county supervisor for many years was, 'Why not open up some of this land to private investors and local communities who could buy the land and then we could get tax revenue from it?' Opening up these lands would reduce the overall burden. There's no particular reason why the federal government should own all that open land, especially in Arizona. It's important to have state land available for school districts… [but] It is important that Arizona land is utilized by Arizonans.”
Smith added that he doesn't have a specific piece of land he's interested in giving away, but he has seen several federal buildings in Arizona that are not currently in use.
Confronting Eli Klein
When asked why he was running, Smith replied, “Unlike my opponent, I live in a rural area. I've lived in this district for many years and I want to make sure that the representative who represents rural Arizona is truly rural. I raised my children in the schools. I was a transportation manager for an Ace Hardware distribution center for nine years and a county supervisor for seven years. I know the issues and I know the neighbors. And this isn't about politics. It's about rolling up my sleeves and making sure rural issues are addressed quickly.”
Smith said it's important to understand the rural environment and its values, an understanding he's developed since moving to the district from Phoenix around 2007.
Smith said that based on his experience working in Yavapai County, he would like to see the county encourage rural homes to adopt French-drain designs to channel rainwater off roofs and into the ground to replenish aquifers.
Klain has repeatedly defended his vote on Oct. 3 to fire House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. [R-Calif.]Smith did not respond to a question about whether he would have voted to remove McCarthy as speaker if he were in Klain's position.
“I wasn't there,” Smith said.
“I want to see the community in which I raise my children thrive, strong and faith-filled,” Smith concluded.
