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Kent SmithDEMDemocrat State Senator, District 21
57
Years of Age
9
Years of Experience
OHResidence (state)

Kent Smith (born September 4, 1966) is the Senator of the 21st district of the Ohio Senate. Smith is a resident of Euclid, Ohio, and previously served as a Representative in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2015-2022 and on the Euclid School Board for 12 years. He also served as head of the Democratic Party for Euclid, and has a degree from the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. In 2014, Smith opted to run for the Ohio House of Representatives to replace Armond Budish, who was term-limited and sought election instead as Cuyahoga County Executive. He faced Republican Mikhail Alterman and Independent Jocelyn Conwell, and won with 71.47% of the vote. He would go on to be re-elected in 2016 and 2018.

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0 / 4
Education6 - 6 of 4
Council of State Governments (CSG), Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota
Attended Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development
2017
Cleveland State University
PhD Economic Development
2003 - 2009
Cleveland State University
MS Urban Studies
1998 - 2001
Miami University
Graduated
1988
Past Positions1 - 17 of 17
Minority Whip
Ohio State Senate
2023 - Current
Senator
Ohio State Senate
2023 - Current
Representative
Ohio State House of Representatives
2015 - 2023
Announcer
Roller Derby World Cup
2018
Director of Development and Communications
East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation
2013 - 2014
Co-Author
"Please God Save Us"
2008 - 2013
Grant Writer
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
2004 - 2012
Roller Derby Announcer
Burning River Roller Derby
2009 - Current
Project Coordinator
Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
2005 - 2007
Community Organizer
Working America
2004
Grant Writer
Recovery Resources
2002 - 2003
Executive Director
Euclid Community Concerns
1997 - 2001
Chief of Staff
Cuyahoga County Recorders Office
1997
Adjunct Researcher
Policy Matters Ohio
Former Writer
Cleveland Free Times
Member
South Euclid Judge Gayle Williams Byers' Transition Team
Member
County Executive Ed FitzGerald's Transition Team
Other Experience1 - 20 of 20
Member
Task Force on Cyber Security, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
Current
Member
Labor and Economic Development Committee, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
Current
Member
Council of State Government’s Great Lakes Legislative Caucus
Current
Member
Advisory Board, Rust Belt Rising
2019 - Current
Board President
Euclid School Board
2002 - 2013
Member
Climate Reality Project Leadership Corps, Chicago
2013
Participant
The Federal Bureau of Investigations Citizens Academy
2011
Leader
Euclid Democratic Party
2006 - Current
Point Person
United States Peace Marshals, Cleveland
1999
Former Participant
Euclid Citizens Police Academy
Member
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 880
Member
Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Executive Committee
Member
Euclid Democratic Club & East Cleveland Democratic Club
Former Member
Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee, Ohio State House of Representatives
Former Member
Public Utilities Committee, Ohio State House of Representatives
Former Member
Education and Career Readiness Committee, Ohio State House of Representatives
Former Member
Legislative Ethics, Ohio State House of Representatives
Former Member
Financial Institutions Committee, Ohio State House of Representatives
Former Member
Rules and Reference Committee, Ohio State House of Representatives
Former Ranking Member
Financial Institutions, Housing and Urban Development Committee, Ohio State House of Representatives