Fred Smith (Arkansas politician) facts for kids

Fredrick Smith is an American politician. He was also a professional basketball player. For most of his life, Smith was a member of the Democratic Party. For a short time, he was the highest-ranking elected official from the Green Party.

Early Life and Education

Fredrick Smith grew up in Crawfordsville. This town is located in Crittenden County, in eastern Arkansas. He went to Crawfordsville High School. After high school, he attended Oral Roberts University. This university is in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Sports Career and Community Work

After college, Fredrick Smith joined the famous Harlem Globetrotters. This basketball team is known for its amazing tricks. In 1997, he set a world record. He performed a vertical slam dunk that was 11 feet, 11 inches high. Smith was later chosen for the Harlem Globetrotters' all-time best roster.

After his sports career, Smith moved back to Arkansas in 2004. He started a non-profit group called Save Our Kids. This organization helps young people in the community.

Serving in the Arkansas House of Representatives

Fredrick Smith decided to enter politics. He ran for a seat in the Arkansas House of Representatives. This is where state laws are made.

First Election in 2010

In 2010, State Representative Otis Davis retired. This opened a spot in Arkansas House District 54. Fredrick Smith decided to run for this open seat. He was one of four candidates. Smith won the first round with 40 percent of the votes. He then won a second vote against James Pulliaum. Smith won the main election with 81% of the votes.

After his election, an issue arose with payments to his Save Our Kids organization. This led to him leaving his position in January 2011. The issue was later resolved in 2012. This made him able to run for public office again.

Running Again in 2012

After resolving the previous issue, Smith decided to run for the Arkansas House again. The Democratic Party tried to keep him off the ballot. Because of this, Smith joined the Green Party of Arkansas. He ran against the current Democratic representative, Hudson Hallum. This election was for District 50. This district was mostly the old District 54, but its borders changed in 2011.

In a surprising turn, Hudson Hallum resigned in September 2012. He had admitted to issues with voter fraud. On Election Day, a judge ruled that votes for Hallum would not be counted. This meant Fredrick Smith received 100% of the votes. He became the second Green Party member elected to the Arkansas State Legislature.

2014 Election and Beyond

During his time in office, Smith often voted with the Democrats. In 2014, he ran for re-election. He sought the Democratic nomination for his House seat. However, he was not successful. Milton Nicks Jr. won the primary election. Nicks received 1,045 votes (66%). Smith received 530 votes (34%).