Ashley Smith spent 23 years in the Hillsborough County School District as a teacher and administrator. He also served as a key member for several years in the Florida Association of School Administrators, lobbying legislators in Tallahassee.
By ERNEST HOOPER
Published October 8, 2004
Smith is hoping that combination of education and politics will help him beat out Republican Richard Glorioso and Libertarian James Clifford in the race for state House District 62, which stretches from Plant City to Valrico and includes a portion of Pasco County.
Over chicken sandwiches at the Chili's in Valrico, the former principal of Eisenhower and Buchanan middle schools talked about his love of education and his experiences in Tallahassee.
Pull up a chair and join us.
ERNEST: You're something of a rarity in East Hillsborough politics. What inspired you to run in a district dominated by Republicans?
ASHLEY: First of all, we don't think it's dominated by Republicans. It has been in the past few years - either the Democrats didn't have a candidate or they had a weak candidate - but if you look at the demographics, the difference between the two parties is only a couple of thousand registered voters. And almost 21 percent of those registered voters are independent voters. So, there's a good chance here. The Democrats just have to have a candidate and we have to get everybody out to the poll. Maybe the presidential election will be the one thing that'll do it.
Talk to me about the combination of politics and education you bring into this race.
Working 25 years in the school district, most of that as a school administrator and principal, I had the opportunity to be elected president of the Hillsborough Association of School Administrators, and I served on that board for 12 years. We went to Tallahassee every year and we lobbied for education. One thing you learn very quickly in Tallahassee is there are very few people, your elected officials, with an educational background. They're either attorneys or businessmen, so you have to educate the officials. While I was on the board on the local association I was elected to be the president of the Florida association. I spent three years on the state board and I represented every school administrator in the state of Florida, and that includes superintendents. I got to learn the Tallahassee scene for 15 years.
Did it change at all in those 15 years?
It didn't. There are very few educators up there and, of course, a large percentage of our state budget goes to education and they don't have a real grass roots clue on how to spend the money. That's why we need people in education up there. If for no other reason, to be a conduit of information for the other people about issues in education.
What was it like lobbying for education?
It's been my experience that up in Tallahassee, a lot of legislators don't like to listen to educators because all they think that educators want when they go up there is more money, more money. Money is part of the issue, but we want quality, too.
Critics of the Legislature would say why would you want to be part of the Legislature after being up there for 15 years? Certainly you know how difficult it can be.
I'm an optimist about things. You have to start somewhere. You just can't give up, obviously. The harder someone pushes me, the harder I'm going to work on something. As far as being a Democrat in Tallahassee, that is difficult when you have the governor and the Senate and the House dominated by Republicans. I've been asked, How can you do anything in Tallahassee when you're a Democrat? Well in 15 years in Tallahassee, I've met a lot of people, I've made a lot of friends and I haven't burnt any bridges. When you go up there, you have to make political friends and personal friends and you treat people with respect. You listen to their side of issues and then they'll listen to your side of issues and that's how you build a rapport with the other side of the aisle. Most issues are not party issues, they're people issues. I'm a Democrat, sure. I'm proud of it and I'll never change, but nonetheless, I'm going to come off as Ashley Smith and not as a Democrat. I'm just working for the people, period.
Where are you on school vouchers?
I think the public school serves the vast majority of the public and obviously most of the funds need to go to support that. If there's a situation where a voucher can help a kid in a certain school, then I have no problem with that. The only thing we need to make sure is that these programs the vouchers are going to, and these schools they are going to, are accountable just like the public schools. As we found out over the last few years, sometimes that's not the case.
Should that accountability extend to making those schools deal with the FCAT?
How can you compare that school to another public school if they aren't using the same standard? They're using taxpayers' money and we're using taxpayers' money; they should have the same requirement.
What led you into education?
I've always liked working with people. If you don't like working with people and solving people's problems, you better not get into education. Most school principals spend the majority of their time resolving people problems: personnel problems, parents' problems, kids' problems. That's why I enjoy doing it. I like helping people solve their problems.
What did you enjoy most about dealing with kids?
The kids were great. The vast majority of kids are really good kids and personable. There is a big difference between a high school kid and a middle school kid. High school kids are in their own little world, but when you're in middle school, they just hug you and talk to you and are friendly to you. Just being around these kids and having a positive influence on them is great. So many of those kids come from homes where there aren't a lot of positive influences. To be able to meet with these kids and give them something positive is what this is all about.
DESSERT: A postscript from Ernest
Smith, 59, boasts of being the only candidate who has 30 years of experience living in the area, and although he currently lives in Valrico, he started his career living and teaching in Plant City. Originally from New Bern, N.C., Ashley met his wife, Ellyn, while in school at the University of South Florida. She's also a career educator and is currently the principal of Seffner Elementary. Fans of Thai food are probably more familiar with Smith's son, Brian. He and his wife, June, own the Simply Thai restaurant at Bloomingdale Square. Ashley also has a daughter, Alix, who is a music teacher.
- Ernest Hooper also writes a column for the Tampa & State section of the St. Petersburg Times. Lunch With Ernest is edited for brevity and clarity. To suggest lunch partners, call Ernest at 226-3406 or e-mail hooper@sptimes.com
