# Ras Smith > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ras_Smith > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ras_Smith.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ras_Smith > Source revision: 1260742437 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **RasTafari I. "Ras" Smith** (born December 29, 1987) is an American politician from [Iowa](/source/Iowa). He served in the [Iowa House of Representatives](/source/Iowa_House_of_Representatives) from 2017 to 2023, as a legislator from [District 62](/source/Iowa_House_of_Representatives,_District_62). ## Personal life, education, and early career RasTafari Smith was named for the royal title and given name of [Haile Selassie](/source/Haile_Selassie).[1] The name was selected by his mother, Belinda Creighton-Smith, a pastor.[1] Smith's father L. C. is a retired factory worker for [John Deere](/source/John_Deere).[2][3] His brothers include Rameses and Myron.[1] Smith is married to Amelia, an educator, with whom he has two children.[1] Smith was raised in northeast [Waterloo, Iowa](/source/Waterloo,_Iowa), and attended [Northern University High School](/source/Northern_University_High_School) in [Cedar Falls, Iowa](/source/Cedar_Falls,_Iowa). He enrolled at [Wartburg College](/source/Wartburg_College) and [Iowa State University](/source/Iowa_State_University) before completing a bachelor's degree in exercise science at the [University of Northern Iowa](/source/University_of_Northern_Iowa). Smith then worked as the strength and conditioning coach at [Waterloo East High School](/source/Waterloo_East_High_School) and volunteered as a member of the high school's American football coaching staff. He left East High to work at a [Target Corporation](/source/Target_Corporation) distribution center, then joined Four Oaks, a special education program, as a counselor and later, shift leader. During his time at Four Oaks, Smith worked toward a master's degree in leisure, youth and human services from the University of Northern Iowa. After completing his master's degree, Smith began working for [Communities In Schools](/source/Communities_In_Schools).[2] Smith is a [Baptist](/source/Baptist).[3] ## Political career After [Deborah Berry](/source/Deborah_Berry) announced her retirement, her seat in [District 62](/source/Iowa_House_of_Representatives,_District_62) was left open.[3] Smith contested that seat in 2016 as a [Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) candidate,[3] defeating [Republican Party](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) candidate Todd Obadal and political independent John Patterson.[4][5] Smith was reelected in 2018 and 2020, both times uncontested.[6] On June 15, 2021, Smith announced that he would run for governor of Iowa in 2022.[7][8] He suspended his campaign in January 2022, citing lack of funds.[9] A month later, Smith stated that he would not be running for reelection to the state legislature.[6] As a result of redistricting prior to the 2022 state legislative elections, Smith's residence was placed in [House District 61](/source/Iowa_House_of_Representatives,_District_61), a seat held by [Timi Brown-Powers](/source/Timi_Brown-Powers).[10] In April 2022, Smith joined [Michael T. Franken](/source/Michael_T._Franken)'s [United States Senate](/source/United_States_Senate) campaign.[11] ## References 1. Schouten, Fredreka (January 2020). ["'Being black isn't enough'"](https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/01/politics/we-count-iowa/index.html). CNN. Retrieved January 30, 2020. 1. Wind, Andrew (January 2, 2018). ["Ras Smith: Striving to support students, constituents"](https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/ras-smith-striving-to-support-students-constituents/article_63e70741-26f0-5e38-ba37-fd6841d78bb0.html). *Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier*. Retrieved January 30, 2020. 1. Crippes, Christina (March 17, 2016). ["UPDATED: Waterloo State Rep. Berry won't seek re-election"](https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/updated-waterloo-state-rep-berry-won-t-seek-re-election/article_923a910f-98c1-572e-898c-f6a434eaeab5.html). *Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier*. Retrieved January 30, 2020. 1. Crippes, Christina (August 20, 2016). ["Republican Todd Obadal running in District 62"](https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/republican-todd-obadal-running-in-district/article_9a13da69-9a44-53ba-95ba-b3de3fdb410a.html). *Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier*. Retrieved January 30, 2020. 1. Cripes, Christina (August 5, 2016). ["Patterson makes bid for House District 62 seat"](https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/patterson-makes-bid-for-house-district-seat/article_232d85be-6850-569d-aa31-637b0d634596.html). *Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier*. Retrieved January 30, 2020. 1. ["Smith, legislator from Waterloo, will not seek re-election"](https://www.kcrg.com/2022/02/06/smith-legislator-waterloo-will-not-seek-re-election/). KCRG-TV. February 5, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022. Republished by [KYOU-TV](https://www.kyoutv.com/2022/02/06/smith-legislator-waterloo-will-not-seek-re-election/) 1. ["State Rep. Ras Smith announces campaign for Iowa governor"](https://www.kyoutv.com/2021/06/15/state-rep-ras-smith-announces-campaign-iowa-governor/). *KYOU-TV*. Retrieved June 15, 2021. 1. Gruber-Miller, Stephen & Pfannenstiel, Brianne (June 15, 2021). ["'There is a place for you here': Democratic state Rep. Ras Smith to run for Iowa governor in 2022"](https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2021/06/15/iowa-democrat-rep-ras-smith-announces-his-campaign-governor-2022/7690572002/). *Des Moines Register*. Retrieved June 23, 2021. 1. Gruber-Miller, Stephen (2022-01-05). ["Democrat Ras Smith suspends campaign for Iowa governor"](https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2022/01/05/democratic-state-rep-ras-smith-suspends-his-campaign-iowa-governor-against-kim-reynolds/9101454002/). *[Des Moines Register](/source/The_Des_Moines_Register)*. Retrieved 2022-01-05. 1. Perreault, Daniel (February 5, 2022). ["Ras Smith says he won't seek reelection in Iowa House"](https://www.kwwl.com/news/top-stories/ras-smith-says-he-wont-seek-reelection-in-iowa-house/article_12a08372-86c4-11ec-924a-331ee87e8e24.html). KWWL. Retrieved April 16, 2022. 1. ["CAMPAIGN ALMANAC: Ras Smith joins Franken's campaign"](https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/legislator-former-candidate-for-governor-joins-frankens-campaign/). *The Gazette*. April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022. Republished by the *[Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier](https://wcfcourier.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/campaign-almanac-ras-smith-joins-franken-s-campaign/article_b03a3bc2-14fa-5f70-ac5b-54f9ac20a44e.html)* ## External links - [Campaign website](https://www.rasforiowa.com/) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ras Smith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ras_Smith) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ras_Smith?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.