Greg Smith (Oregon politician)

Smith graduated from Eastern Oregon University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Liberal Studies. He later earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration.

After graduating from college, Smith served as a community advisory member for Senator Gordon Smith. He was also an intern for then-Oregon House of Representatives Majority Leader Greg Walden. In 1996, Smith was an alternate delegate in the 1996 Republican National Convention.^[1]

In 2000 Smith successfully ran for Oregon State Representative for District 59. In 2001, redistricting moved Smith into Oregon's 57th House district. He ran for re-election and won.

Smith's 2017 committee assignments were as follows:^[2]

• Joint Ways and Means Committee, Co-Vice Chair
• Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on General Government, Co-Chair
• Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Capital Construction
• Joint Legislative Administration Committee
• Joint Committee on Transportation Preservation & Modernization
• Joint Committee on Tax Reform
• Special House Committee on Small Business Growth, Co-Chair
• House GOP Caucus Budget Committee, Chair
• Governor Kate Brown's Small Business Cabinet, Member
• Cost Containment Workgroup
• Provider Assessment Workgroup

During his terms in office, Smith has earned a 100% voting records with the Taxpayer Association of Oregon,^[3] Oregon Gun Owners of America,^[4] Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregonians for Food and Shelter, and the National Federation of Independent Business. The Oregon Cattlemen's Association has given Smith the "Lariat Laureate", their highest award. The Oregon Fair Association has given Smith the title "Grand Champion Legislator" for the work he has done on their behalf. He has also received the "Outstanding Freshman Legislator of the Year" award during the 19th Annual Oregon Rural Health Conference.^[5] The NRA Political Victory Fund has consistently given Smith an A+ grade on his votes regarding gun related legislation.^[6][7][8][9] In 2009, Associated Oregon Industries named Smith "A Champion for Oregon Jobs and Business."

Controversy

Smith has been the subject of numerous ethics investigations due to his significant income, reported as approximately $1M per year, but lack of discernible personal income outside of contracts with government entities which directly benefit from state funding which he helps to secure as a Legislator.^[10]

"Greg Smith & Company LLC, based in Smith's home in rural Morrow County, has a long practice of obtaining contracts from government agencies that benefit from state appropriations. At the Legislature, Smith is a powerful force on the budget committee that maps out how state money is spent." -Malheur Enterprise, February, 2024.

Smith's consulting work has drawn particular criticism due to the large amounts of State dollars which his work brings to clients located outside of his home district, raising questions about influence-peddling at the expense of his own constituents.^[11]

He resides in Heppner with his wife Sherri and their five children.^[12] He is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints^[13]

Following the Standoff at Eagle Pass, Smith signed a letter in support of Texas Governor Greg Abbott's decision in the conflict.^[14]

(*)All elections were for Oregon House of Representatives District 57 except for year 2000, which was for Oregon House District 59.

• Campaign website
• Legislative website
• Vote Smart biography of Smith