Senator Ralph Smith (R-Roanoke)

Party Republican Photo of Ralph Smith
District 19: Floyd County (All), Salem City (All), Bedford County (Part), Carroll County (Part), Franklin County (Part), Montgomery County (Part), Roanoke County (Part), Wythe County (Part) [map]
Took Office January 2008
Next Election November 2015
Committees Education and Health, Local Government (Chair), Privileges and Elections, Rules, Transportation
Age 69
Website ralphsmithsenate.com
Fundraising $15,418 cash on hand (From VPAP)
Copatroning Habits 59% of bills he copatroned were introduced by Republicans. Of all of the copatrons of his bills, 64% of them are Republicans. Of all of the copatrons of all of the bills that he also copatroned, 54% of them are Republicans.
Partisanship
?
Tag Cloud ?
abortion budget campaign commendation crime disclosure education election elections eminent domain ethics gay government health immigration insurance legislature lobbyist party nomination politics property real estate sbe school sheriff student sunlight tax transparency voting
Bills Passed 47.4% in 2011
Bio

Retired from the trailer part manufacturing business. Served as the mayor of Roanoke from 2000-4. Defeated Sen. Brandon Bell in the Republican primary. Graduate of Nashville Auto-Diesel College. Has four children.
Top Recent Contributors
Donor Sector Total
Smith, Ralph K Republican candidate contributions to own campaign $130,000
Virginia Senate Republican Leadership Trust Republican Party committees $27,484
Building A Better Virginia PACs operated by Republican state politicians $25,000
Newman For Senate 2007 Republican candidate committees $12,000
Ralph Smith Mayor Cmte Uncoded $11,885
Gilmore Patriots Cmte PACs operated by Republican state politicians $5,000
Virginia Dental Association Dentists $5,000
Gilliam, Richard Baxter Coal mining $5,000
The Good Fund PACs operated by Republican state politicians $5,000
Ottaway, Geoff Uncoded $4,400

Data provided by The National Institute on Money in State Politics.

Recent Mentions on Blogs

Where We Stand: A Crossover Report from the Senate of Virginia |

February 11, 2012
Senator Ralph Smith's SB 274 establishes that UDAs are optional rather than mandatory, and that the voting public can rethink a locality's decision to adopt one. Gun Rights and Self Defense A man's home is his castle – and ...

Herring's Public Safety Agenda Passes the Virginia Senate « Mark ...

February 10, 2012
Herring, along with Senator Ralph Smith (R-Roanoke, is Chief Co-Patron of SB 273 that amends the law passed last year regarding the criminalization of synthetic cannabinoids and chemicals known as “bath salts” to add ...

The Virginia Gazette, Williamsburg Virginia > News > A scorecard ...

February 2, 2012
“There is legislation [in the assembly] that will erect barriers to people registering to vote, get in a ballot or even trying to assist somebody else who's voting,” said Sen. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton), who ... that you could show at the polls. It is SB 663, by Sen. Ralph Smith (R-Roanoke). His measure “adds concealed handgun permits to the list of acceptable forms of identification to vote.” The Senate Privileges and Elections Committee voted 14-1 Tuesday for SB 663.

Ralph Smith may buck GOP Senate organization plan – Bearing ...

January 11, 2012
Ralph Smith may buck GOP Senate organization plan By JR Hoeft | Wednesday, January 11th, 2012 | Catch-All. I am sure the voters of the 19th District didn't expect the first thing their re-elected state Senator to do is head to ...

Roanoke Free Press » Senator Ralph Smith attacks the media in his ...

November 9, 2011
Republican Senator Ralph Smith was victorious in a contentious race with Independent candidate and former Senator Brandon Bell. Smith won with over ... Congressman Bob Goodlatte introduced the victorious Sen. Smith.
Recent Mentions in the Media

Staunton News Leader: Bills to allow party ID in local Va. elections defeated

February 10, 2012
SB 275: Introduced by Sen. Ralph Smith, R-Roanoke; merged into SB 56. SB 252: Introduced by Sen. Steve Martin, R-Chesterfield; merged into SB 56. SB 56: Introduced by Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg; defeated 14-25 in the Senate.and more »

Franklin News Post: Bills to eliminate handgun purchasing limit pass Senate, House

February 8, 2012
SB 323, introduced by Sen. Bill Carrico (R-Galax), passed the Senate Monday on a vote of 21 to 19. Sens. Bill Stanley and Ralph Smith, who represent Franklin County, both voted in favor of the bill. A similar bill in the House (HB 940) would also ...and more »

Roanoke Times: Bolling breaks tie on voter ID bill

February 7, 2012
Sen. Ralph Smith, R-Roanoke County, is sponsoring the bill. Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, said the identification requirement will create a burden that falls disproportionately on "the elderly, the poor, the disabled, and people of color.and more »

The Free Lance-Star (blog): Bill makes UDAs optional for localities

February 6, 2012
The Senate bill from Sen. Ralph Smith, R?Roanoke, passed on a 25?15 vote, with most Fredericksburg-area senators voting for it. It makes UDAs optional for localities, and also allows them to repeal past approval of UDAs. A similar bill has passed out ...

Franklin News Post: Sunday hunting bills hit snags in committee

February 6, 2012
Sen. Bill Stanley (R-Franklin County) voted in favor of the bill, but Sen. Ralph Smith (R-Roanoke County) voted against it. The first House bill, HB 921, introduced by Del. Scott Lingamfelter (R-Woodbridge), would have allowed any person with a hunting ...

Below is a randomly assembled series of clips of some of Ralph Smith’s briefer remarks on the floor of the senate.

Bills