Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Smith To Run For Congress

Former state representative Judy Smith has tossed her hat back into the political arena.

Smith has announced plans to run for the Fourth Congressional District House of Representative, challenging Republican incumbent Jay Dickey.

She will have a "Join Judy" tour of the 26 counties comprising the Fourth Congressional District starting in October.

Smith unsuccessfully challenged Dickey in 1998, but said she is pleased with the large field showing interest in this seat for the Democratic Primary next May.

"The strength of my campaign of 1998 came from the people of the Fourth District," she said. "Together we proved Jay Dickey is beatable."

Smith did better in the election than the "experts" predicted. Early predictions were she would garner 36 percent of the vote, but her campaign managed to net 43 percent.

Following the '98 election, Smith took time off to have surgery done. However, she has remained active in the district, traveling around, giving speeches, attending functions and building the "Join Judy" coalition.

More importantly, according to a release from Smith's office, she's been working to raise money as she was outspent by Dickey in '98.

Smith was first elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1990, unseating a 24- year incumbent. She was also named one of the top 10 legislators by a state paper in '93 and was elected Deputy Majority Leader at one time.

She is married to Sylvester Smith Jr. and has two sons, Sylvester III and Joseph.