Calvin Smyre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Calvin Smyre
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| United States Ambassador to the Bahamas | |
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Nominee
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| Assuming office TBD |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Succeeding | Kimberly Furnish (Chargé d'Affaires) |
| Member of the Georgia House of Representatives | |
| In office January 13, 1975 – January 9, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Hines L. Brantley |
| Succeeded by | Teddy Reese |
| Constituency | 92nd district (1975–1993) 136th district (1993–2003) 111th district (2003–2005) 132nd district (2005–2013) 135th district (2013–2023) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 17, 1947 Columbus, Georgia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residences | Columbus, Georgia, U.S. |
| Education | Fort Valley State University (BS) |
| Occupation | Retired banker |
Calvin Smyre, born on May 17, 1947, is an American politician. He served for a very long time in the Georgia House of Representatives. In fact, he was the longest-serving member there! He was also nominated to become a U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas.
Contents
About Calvin Smyre
Early Life and School
Calvin Smyre grew up in Columbus, Georgia. He was one of three children. His father was a U.S. Army officer. Calvin went to Fort Valley State University. He studied business there.
His Political Career
Calvin Smyre has been involved in politics for many years. He has been a delegate for Georgia at every Democratic National Convention since 1980. This is a big meeting where the Democratic Party chooses its presidential candidate.
In 1984, he became the first African American from Georgia elected to the Democratic National Committee. This group helps guide the Democratic Party.
Smyre also advised the presidential campaigns of Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Al Gore. He helped choose the U.S. President as an elector for Georgia in the Electoral College in 1980, 1992, and 2020.
Serving in the Georgia House
In 1974, Calvin Smyre became the youngest person elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. He was only 26 years old.
He was appointed as an assistant floor leader in 1983. In 1986, he became a floor leader. This made him the first African American leader of the House since the Reconstruction period.
In 1998, he was elected the first African American Chairman of the Democratic Party's state legislative group. In 2001, he was appointed Chairman of the state Democratic Party.
In 2006, he was elected President of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. Smyre is known for helping different political groups, like Democrats and Republicans, work together. He often acts as a go-between.
Smyre also worked as an executive at a company called Synovus. He was in charge of how the company connected with the public. He also led the Synovus Foundation.
Becoming an Ambassador
On September 22, 2021, President Joe Biden announced he would nominate Smyre to be the United States ambassador to the Dominican Republic. This nomination was sent to the Senate on October 4, 2021.
However, on May 17, 2022, that nomination was changed. Instead, he was nominated to serve as the ambassador to the Bahamas.
President Biden officially announced his plan to nominate Smyre for the Bahamas role on May 13, 2022. The nomination was sent to the Senate on May 17, 2022. The Senate did not vote on it before the end of that Congress.
President Biden nominated Smyre again on January 3, 2023. His nomination is currently waiting for a decision from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
See also
- List of ambassadors appointed by Joe Biden
