Vice Chairman Appropriations – Higher Education

HD 113 (R- Watkinsville)

Born and raised in Oconee County, Representative Bob Smith went on to attend the University of Georgia, graduating with his BBA in 1976.  He currently is involved in Commercial Real Estate, and worked as an appraiser in past years.  Representative Smith began his political career with his election to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1998.  He is currently serving as the Vice Chairman of Appropriations for the Higher Education Sub-Committee.  The Vice Chairman is also a member of the Rules, Public Utilities and Telecommunications and Reapportionment Committees.  

The energetic, yet humble, legislator claims 2 heroes: his mother, whom he lost 6 years ago and Ronald Reagan.  Former President Ronald Reagan was somehow able to shine a light onto the longtime Democrat and convert him into a Republican in 1979 and he hasn’t turned back since.  Representative Bob Smith has been actively involved in campaigns and politics since the age of 6, when he remembers passing out cards for the election of the Fire Commissioner in his hometown.  Later, that involvement escalated to more active involvement in the Norwood Campaign.  For that particular electoral season, Representative Smith actually dressed up as Uncle Sam to help promote the candidate!

Chairman Smith and his wife Laura are the proud parents of 3 children.  The eldest of the 3, Robert, is in his senior year at Georgia Tech working on a degree in architecture.  The couple’s younger son, Matthew, is a rising junior at the University of Georgia.  Shearron, the youngest of the Smith bunch is a rising senior at Oconee County High School, representing the fourth generation of her family to attend there.  The Smith’s are active members of the Ashford Memorial Methodist Church of Watkinsville in Oconee County.  The Smith children have always been actively involved in theater while growing up, which is something that Representative Smith really enjoys watching.

Aside from church and his children’s theatrical appearances, the legislator is an avid golfer, enjoys traveling and has an interest in antiques.  The chairman claims also to be a big fan of serving the people.  He is very active in several community organizations in addition to his legislative duties.  He is a member of the Oconee Rotary Club, the Athens Area Association of Realtors and is one of the founding members of the Oconee County Relay for Life Organization.

Representative Smith also serves as a Board Member of the Athens Technical College Foundation, Fiscal Affairs & Government Operations Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference and the Heartland Institute Board of Legislative Advisors.