Calvin Smyre
United States Ambassador to the Bahamas
Nominee
Assuming office
TBD
PresidentJoe Biden
SucceedingUsha E. Pitts
(Chargé d'Affaires)
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives
In office
January 13, 1975 – January 9, 2023
Preceded byHines L. Brantley
Succeeded byTeddy Reese
Constituency92nd district (1975–1993)
136th district (1993–2003)
111th district (2003–2005)
132nd district (2005–2013)
135th district (2013–2023)
Personal details
Born (1947-05-17) May 17, 1947 (age 76)
Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
EducationFort Valley State University (BS)
OccupationRetired banker

Calvin Smyre (born May 17, 1947) is an American politician who served as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives. Elected in 1974, he was the longest-serving member of the Georgia Legislature.[1] In May 2022, his nomination to serve as the United States ambassador to the Dominican Republic was withdrawn and he was instead nominated to serve as the United States ambassador to the Bahamas.[2]

Early life and education

Smyre was born in Columbus, Georgia.[3] He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Fort Valley State University with a focus in business administration.

Career

Smyre has served as a delegate for Georgia to every Democratic National Convention since 1980, and became the first African American member elected from Georgia to the Democratic National Committee in 1984. He advised the presidential campaigns of Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Al Gore, and served as an elector for Georgia to the Electoral College in 1980, 1992, and 2020.

Smyre became the youngest member of the Georgia House of Representatives when he was elected to the chamber at the age of 26 in 1974.[4][5]

Governor Joe Frank Harris appointed Smyre assistant floor leader in the 1983 legislative session and, in 1986, appointed him floor leader for the 1987 session, making him the first African American leader of the House since Reconstruction.[5][6] In 1998, he was elected the first African American Chairman of the Democratic Party's state legislative caucus;[7] and, in 2001, Smyre was appointed Chairman of the state Democratic Party.[4] In 2006, he was elected President of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.[8] Smyre is known for helping Democrats and Republicans negotiate, acting as a liaison.[1]

Smyre also worked as executive vice president of corporate external affairs at Synovus and president of the Synovus Foundation.

Biden administration

On September 22, 2021, President Joe Biden announced that he would nominate Smyre to serve as the United States ambassador to the Dominican Republic.[9] On October 4, 2021, his nomination was sent to the Senate.[10] On May 17, 2022, his nomination was withdrawn, and he was nominated to serve as the ambassador to the Bahamas.[11]

On May 13, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Smyre to serve as the next United States ambassador to the Bahamas.[12] On May 17, 2022, his nomination was sent to the Senate.[11] His nomination was not acted on for the remainder of the Congress and was sent back to Biden on January 3, 2023.[13]

President Biden renominated Smyre the same day. His nomination is pending before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Bluestein, Greg (9 November 2020). "Meet Georgia's 16 Democratic electors". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Calvin Smyre, longest-serving member, resigns from Georgia state House – Ballotpedia News".
  3. ^ "Rep. Calvin Smyre" (PDF). Georgia House of Representatives. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Columbus' Smyre to Lead State Democratic Party". Ledger-Enquirer. October 4, 2001. p. C1.
  5. ^ a b Donald L. Grant (2001). The Way It Was in the South: The Black Experience in Georgia. University of Georgia Press. p. 457. ISBN 0-8203-2329-2.
  6. ^ "Harris picks Smyre for top House post". The Atlanta Journal. November 17, 1986. p. C1.
  7. ^ "State Party Elects Calvin Smyre As First African American Chairman". Columbus Times. November 24, 1998.
  8. ^ "Smyre to Head Black Legislators' Group". Ledger-Enquirer. December 6, 2006. p. C1.
  9. ^ "President Biden Announces Key Nominations". The White House. September 22, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  10. ^ "Nominations Sent to the Senate" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. October 4, 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  11. ^ a b "Nominations and Withdrawals Sent to the Senate" (Press release). The White House. May 17, 2022. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  12. ^ "President Biden Announces Key Nominees" (Press release). The White House. May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  13. ^ "PN2132 — Calvin Smyre — Department of State 117th Congress (2021-2022)". US Congress. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  14. ^ "PN30 — Calvin Smyre — Department of State 118th Congress (2023-2024)". US Congress. Retrieved 4 January 2023.

External links

Georgia House of Representatives Preceded byHines L. Brantley Member of the Georgia House of Representativesfrom the 92nd district 1975–1993 Succeeded byDenny M. Dobbs Preceded byRay Holland Member of the Georgia House of Representativesfrom the 136th district 1993–2003 Succeeded byWinfred Dukes Preceded byMickey Channell Member of the Georgia House of Representativesfrom the 111th district 2003–2005 Succeeded byJeff May Preceded byJohnny Floyd Member of the Georgia House of Representativesfrom the 132nd district 2005–2013 Succeeded byCarl Von Epps Preceded byLynmore James Member of the Georgia House of Representativesfrom the 135th district 2013–2023 Succeeded byBeth Camp Preceded byBill Lee Majority Caucus Chair of the Georgia House of Representatives 1999–2005 Succeeded bySharon Cooper Preceded bySharon Cooper Minority Caucus Chair of the Georgia House of Representatives 2005–2011 Succeeded byBrian Thomas Party political offices Preceded byDavid Worley Chair of the Georgia Democratic Party 2001–2004 Succeeded byBobby Kahn
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