Eric Smith (Kansas politician)
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Similar names|Eric Smith (disambiguation)}}{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Eric Smith
| image = Eric Smith by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| state_house = Kansas
| district = 76th
| term_start = January 9, 2017
| term_end = January 13, 2025
| predecessor = Peggy Mast
| successor = Bradley Barrett
| party = Republican
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|December 2, 1966}}
| birth_place = Eureka, Kansas, U.S.
| spouse = Rebecca
| children = 6
| education = Community College of the Air Force (AS)
Liberty University (BS)
| branch = {{flag|United States Air Force}}
| serviceyears = 1988–1992
}}
Eric L. Smith (born December 2, 1966){{Cite web|title=Eric Smith's Biography|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/171952/eric-smith|access-date=2021-08-15|website=Vote Smart}} is an American politician and law enforcement officer who served as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 76th district. Elected in November 2016, he assumed office on January 9, 2017, and did not run for re-election in 2024.{{cite news|url=https://kvoe.com/2024/05/07/245376/|title=House 76th District Representative Eric Smith retiring, endorses Barrett for seat|work=KVOE|date=May 7, 2024}}
Early life and education
Smith was born in Eureka, Kansas. He earned an associate's degree in electronics and minutemen weapon systems from the Community College of the Air Force in 1991 and a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice and corrections from Liberty University.{{Cite web|title=Eric Smith (Kansas)|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Eric_Smith_(Kansas)|access-date=2021-08-15|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}
Career
From 1988 to 1992, Smith served as an electro-mechanical technician in the United States Air Force. From 2001 to 2009, he was a security officer at the Wolf Creek Generating Station in Coffey County, Kansas. From 2012 to 2015, Smith served as an officer with the Lebo, Kansas Police Department. He has also served as a deputy sheriff with the Coffey County Sheriff's Office. He was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in November 2016 and assumed office on January 9, 2017. Since 2019, Smith has served as vice chair of the House Agriculture Committee and chair of the House Kansas Security Committee.{{Cite web|title=Representative Eric L. Smith {{!}} Legislators {{!}} Kansas State Legislature|url=http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020/b2019_20/members/rep_smith_eric_1/|access-date=2021-08-15|website=www.kslegislature.org}}