Shapleigh "Shap" Smith, Jr. (born December 16, 1965) is an American politician who served as the 92nd Speaker of the

Vermont House of Representatives The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members, with each member representing around 4,100 citizens. Representatives a ...

. In August 2015 Smith announced his candidacy for the 2016 Democratic nomination for

Governor of Vermont The governor of Vermont is the head of government of the U.S. state of Vermont. The officeholder is elected in even-numbered years by direct voting for a term of two years. Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold guberna ...

. In November he suspended his campaign, citing the need to spend time with his wife after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After his wife's health improved, he considered reentering the gubernatorial race but did not think he could raise the required funds in time, so he entered the race for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont instead. He announced his candidacy in May 2016, and finished second to David Zuckerman in the Democratic primary.

Biography

Smith graduated from the

University of Vermont The University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, commonly referred to as the University of Vermont (UVM), is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Burlington, Vermont, United States. Foun ...

(B.A., 1987), and is a member of the

Phi Delta Theta Phi Delta Theta (), commonly known as Phi Delt, is an international secret and social Fraternities and sororities in North America, fraternity founded in 1848, and currently headquartered, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, alo ...

fraternity. He also attended the Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington (J.D., cum laude, 1991). He is an attorney and shareholder with the law firm of Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew, P.C. in Burlington. Smith, a Democrat, was first elected to the Vermont House in 2002. He represented the Lamoille-Washington 1 District, which includes the Towns of Elmore and Morristown in Lamoille County and Woodbury and

Worcester Worcester may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Worcester, England, a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England ** Worcester (UK Parliament constituency), an area represented by a Member of Parliament * Worcester Park, London, Engl ...

in Washington County. Early in his House career he was a member of the Ways & Means and Joint Fiscal Committees. On December 6, 2008, House Democrats, who held a 95–48 majority, nominated Smith to be the next Speaker of the Vermont House. He was elected Speaker on January 8, 2009, and was re-elected on January 5, 2011, January 8, 2013, and January 7, 2015. On August 20, 2015, Smith announced his candidacy for the 2016 Democratic nomination for governor. In November he withdrew, following his wife's breast cancer diagnosis. Smith indicated in his withdrawal announcement that he was ending his campaign in order to spend more time with his wife during her treatment. Smith announced in May 2016 that he would be a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, citing his wife's improved health and a desire to continue a career in public service. A few days before the August 9th primary, he earned the endorsement of former Vermont Governor

Howard Dean Howard Brush Dean III (born November 17, 1948) is an American physician, author, consultant, and retired politician who served as the 79th governor of Vermont from 1991 to 2003 and chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) from 2005 to 20 ...

. Smith finished second in the Democratic primary, losing to Democrat/ Progressive David Zuckerman, who had been endorsed by Senator

Bernie Sanders Bernard Sanders (born September8, 1941) is an American politician and activist who is the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from the state of Vermont. He is the longest-serving independ ...

Personal life

Smith resides in Morristown with his wife, Melissa Volansky, and his two children.

References

External links

Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Shap 1965 births Indiana University alumni Living people Politicians from Danbury, Connecticut People from Morristown, Vermont Speakers of the Vermont House of Representatives Democratic Party members of the Vermont House of Representatives 21st-century members of the Vermont General Assembly University of Vermont alumni Vermont lawyers Candidates in the 2016 United States elections Phi Delta Theta members