Paul Smith of Loganville publicly announces his intention to meet the appropriate requirements to run for the February 7, 2012, special election for Georgia House District 107. He will campaign for the seat which was previously held by Rep. Len Walker, who recently resigned after 17 years of service in the General Assembly.

Like current state Rep. Len Walker, Paul Smith is an ordained minister. He has been actively involved in non-profit education ministries since 1996. His background includes working as Legislative Director for the Georgia Association of Christian Schools. Most recently Paul founded Citizen Impact, a non-profit organization, which encourages understanding of, and participating in, the political process. He speaks regularly to churches, schools and other groups educating them on public policy, and bringing awareness on current legislative issues.

Smith understands the daily struggles of small businesses which serve as the backbone of our country’s economy. Paul believes that keeping taxes low and limiting government regulation will help the business sector grow, fueling the economy and creating jobs. “Government regulation and red tape are hindering the economy and slowing down our job creators. I believe that state government should work to remove the obstacles that entrepreneurs and small businesses face so they can be freed up to thrive and create jobs,” Smith said.

He is also committed to defending the traditional values upon which our country’s foundation is built. “We the people” are more than just words on a page for Paul. He believes this guiding principle from our Founding Fathers provides the foundation for what true representation should look like for serving the community," he said.

Smith has been married to his wife, Tammy, for 23 years and has two daughters. He has never run for public office, thus is hoping to bring a renewed outlook to the Georgia General Assembly.