Politics & Government

Summit Attorney Announces Bid for County Freeholder

Smith said 2011 is a year Republicans can win.

Andy Smith, the vice chair of the Summit Republican City Committee and a local attorney, announced a bid for Union County Freeholder Wednesday night.

Smith said he had never given much thought to running for freeholder until last year when Summit Councilwoman Ellen Dickson launched her ultimately unsuccessful campaign. Dickson, who had been considering a second run for freeholder this year, had decided instead to run for mayor of Summit.

"She said 'We've finally got a governor who gets it and we've really got to support him.' and she felt the best way she could support him was to run for freeholder," Smith said.

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Smith made his announcement during the Summit Republican mini-convention Wednesday evening. The Union County Republicans will be holding a county convention Thursday evening in Westfield to nominate freeholder and state legislative candidates. The Democratic Party has incumbent Freeholders Angel Estrda of Elizabeth and Chris Hudak of Linden , along with newcomer Vernell Wright of Union Township as their county slate.

Smith said he hopes to be bring transparency, fiscal responsibility and accountability to the Democratic controlled Freeholder Board. Democrats have held all nine seats on the freeholder board since 1998.

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"We have a population in this state that is fed up with this government. It's fed up with government taking too much and not giving enough back," Smith said. "And I think nowhere is that more evident than on the Union County Freeholder Board."

Smith has also served on the Board of Health, is a member of the American Legion and the Summit Taxpayers Association.

Smith graduated from RIT and served in the Army for four years in Korea and Bosnia before attending law school at Boston College. He has three children.

"I really believe that in 2011 we have a shot," he said.


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