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Regular Session, 2010
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 177
BY SENATOR ADLEY
COMMENDATIONS. Commends long-time lobbyist, Charlie Smith, upon his selection as
an inductee to the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame for 2011.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend Charlie Smith, lobbyist extraordinaire and political consultant, upon his2
selection as an inductee into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame for 2011.3
WHEREAS, it is altogether fitting and proper to congratulate Charlie Smith for this4
auspicious honor; and5
WHEREAS, very few mortals reach the status of legend in the world of politics, in6
particular, someone who has never held an elective office; and7
WHEREAS, Charlie Smith has been a integral part of the State Capital community8
for over forty years; and9
WHEREAS, Charlie Smith has reached that pinnacle and rose far beyond it to the10
stratosphere of near political nirvana; he is without peer in the world of lobbying and11
persuasion; and12
WHEREAS, Charlie possesses a wealth of knowledge on many complex issues that13
include arts and humanities, business law, natural resources and mineral production, film and14
entertainment, music, and workmen's compensation; and15
WHEREAS, Charlie was born in Mobile, Alabama, reared in Slidell, Louisiana,16
attended Southeastern Louisiana University, and later graduated from LSU with a Bachelors17
of Arts degree in Journalism where he often voiced opinions at Free Speech Alley, was18 SR NO. 177
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active in the Young Democrats campus organization, and developed a fervor for LSU Tiger1
football; and2
WHEREAS, he began with representation of the Louisiana Municipal Association3
and soon after that, a power-wielding client, Associated General Contractors; the time was4
1968 and "old-time" politics was the order of the day; dictated by movers and shakers5
confecting deals in smoke-filled rooms over cards and Kentucky bourbon; and6
WHEREAS, in the thick of it was Charlie Smith, a master of riding the roller coaster7
of legislative procedure, managing legislators like bull-riding at the rodeo; goading them as8
they emerge from the chute, spurs a'gleaming; sometimes making the "8 second ride" and9
sometimes being bucked off; and10
WHEREAS, in 1970, Charlie Smith became Executive Director of the Construction11
Industry Legislative Council, a loose-knit association of contractors, engineers, architects,12
and sub-contractors, by itself no easy task to herd that group; and13
WHEREAS, Charlie tackled the monumental labor management political battles of14
all time such as, Right To Work, Workers' Compensation, Unemployment Compensation15
Reform, and the repeal of the Prevailing Wage Law; and16
WHEREAS, for eighteen years Charlie was a well-connected, extremely successful17
political strategist, however, his hard-charging, "take no prisoners," fast paced life had begun18
to spin out of control; in 1987, he had a moment of clarity, stopped his world in the midst19
of all his success, did a complete about face, stepped away from the political scene, and took20
up the laid back life style of a poet and bohemian in the French Quarter of New Orleans; and21
WHEREAS, he eked out a meager living, wrote compositions and poems, published22
several books of poetry, Last Call, Still Waiting for Last Call, and Throw Me Something23
Mistuh, a reflective look at his life both past and present; he was once arrested for selling24
poetry without proper municipal authorization, to which he commented, "There is no poetic25
license in New Orleans."; and26
WHEREAS, after a seven year hiatus, Charlie Smith returned to the capital in 1994,27
to take up the lobbyist mantle once again with the same tenacity as before, but less of the28
bravado, with his life now on a more even keel, steady, assured, ready to go to work as an29
advocate for funding for the arts, environmental issues, historic preservation, fishing30 SR NO. 177
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industries, humane societies, parishes, and municipalities; and1
WHEREAS, Charlie Smith has helped to change the landscape for the arts, to2
promote its worth, to elevate the necessity of arts in education, and to find financial support3
of such worthy causes as Louisiana Artworks, the Contemporary Art Center in New Orleans,4
and the conservation of the Grand Opera House in Crowley, to name but a few; and5
WHEREAS, Charlie Smith, the elder statesman of lobbyists and proud ardent6
admirer of the people and institution of the legislative process, is well known for his pleasant7
demeanor and kind heart, his affection for animals, his writing, and his passion for8
Louisiana, her culture, and her people; and9
WHEREAS, he is happily married to his wife, Donna; and10
WHEREAS, his children hold his heart in their hands, his daughters, Kimberly and11
Cristina Noel, and his son and business partner, Tracy Donovan Smith; and12
WHEREAS, Charlie Smith describes himself as the patron saint of previously lost13
causes, and politically unconventional, which from most points of view, is only the tip of the14
iceberg.15
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana16
does hereby commend Charlie Smith, lobbyist and political analyst, for his selection and17
future induction into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame for 2011.18
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to19
Charlie Smith of Smith and Associates.20
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Suzi Montague.
DIGEST
Adley SR No.
Commends Charlie Smith upon selection as an inductee into the Louisiana Political Hall of
Fame for 2011.