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Lawrence J. Smith

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lawrence J. Smith
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 16th district
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byClay Shaw (Redistricting)
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 96th district
In office
November 21, 1978 – November 16, 1982
Preceded byCharles W. Boyd
Succeeded byThomas H. Armstrong
Personal details
Born
Lawrence Jack Smith

(1941-04-25) April 25, 1941 (age 83)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseSheila Cohen
Children2
EducationNew York University
Brooklyn Law School (JD, LLB)
Professionlawyer

Lawrence Jack Smith (born April 25, 1941) is an American politician, lawyer, lobbyist, and a former five-term member of the United States House of Representatives from Florida, serving from 1983 to 1993.

Biography

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He attended public schools in East Meadow, New York. He attended New York University in New York City from 1958 to 1961. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School in 1964. He was admitted to the New York bar in 1964 and he commenced practice in New York City. In 1972, he was admitted to the Florida bar, and from 1974 until 1978, he was chairman of the Hollywood (Fl.) Planning and Zoning Board.

Political career

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From 1978 until 1982, he served in the Florida House of Representatives.[1]

Lawrence Smith was a delegate to seven Democratic National Conventions from 1980 to 2004.

He was elected as a Democrat to the 98th United States Congress and to the four succeeding Congresses. He served from January 3, 1983, until January 3, 1993. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1992 to the 103rd United States Congress.

Later career

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Smith announced his retirement from Congress after revelations of bounced checks in connection with the House banking scandal and improper use of campaign funds.[2] He pleaded guilty on May 25, 1993, to one count each of tax evasion and filing false campaign reports and was sentenced to three months in prison.[3][4]

Currently, he is a resident of Hollywood, Florida. He has practiced in New York and Florida. He operated his own law offices which were based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Tallahassee, Florida, and Washington, D.C. From 2012 until his retirement he practiced law with the law firm of Kelley Kronenberg serving as Special Counsel and Government Relations Liaison in Fort Lauderdale.[5]

See also

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References

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  • United States Congress. "Lawrence J. Smith (id: S000586)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
[edit]
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
None
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 16th congressional district

1983–1993
Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative
Succeeded byas Former US Representative