FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 17, 2019
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The board of directors of ProgressPAC, the Business Council of Alabama’s political action committee, has endorsed farmer and retired educator, Autauga County Commissioner Van Smith in the Alabama House District 42 special primary election scheduled August 20, ProgressPAC Chairman John Mazyck said today.
Smith is seeking the Republican nomination for the seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Jimmy Martin, R-Clanton. The district covers Autauga and Chilton counties.
“Van Smith’s background as a farmer and an educator combined with his service on the County Commission give him solid credentials to serve the central Alabama district in the House of Representatives,” said Mazyck of The Frazer Lanier Company, Inc. in Montgomery. “He has demonstrated that he is committed to recruiting new industry and growing jobs. ProgressPAC is proud to endorse him in the August 20 special election.”
BCA’s ProgressPAC is comprised of a statewide board of directors and nine regional advisory committees (RACs) that assess races in each region and make endorsement recommendations to the ProgressPAC board of directors. ProgressPAC’s RAC 4, chaired by Horace Horn of PowerSouth Energy, made the endorsement recommendation, and the ProgressPAC board voted to endorse Smith.
“Alabama’s business community is proud to support Van Smith,” said Horn. “We look forward to working with him as we continue to best position our state for continued growth, recruiting jobs and workforce development.”
“I am honored to have the support of the business community,” Smith said. “Education and workforce development are the cornerstones of my campaign. I look forward to championing pro-business ideals in Montgomery.”
Smith served 37 years in public education as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal and retired in 2013. He earned a master’s degree from Alabama A&M in Agriscience Education.
Smith, 66, was born in Chilton County and has served on the Autauga County Commission since 2013 and operates Hickory Hill cattle and hay farm.
ProgressPAC is the political arm of the Business Council of Alabama, a non-partisan, statewide business association representing the interests and concerns of nearly 1 million working Alabamians through its member companies and its partnership with the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama.
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Contact: Nancy Wall Hewston (334) 834-6000