Steve Smith in a Nutshell
Steve has always had an interest in history and in the political processes of our national and individual state governments. He never anticipated or expected to consider running for elected office himself until recently. Below you will learn who Steve is, how he developed his beliefs and experience, when and why he moved to Maryland and what he hopes to do to Make Maryland Matter again.
Steve was born in Binghamton, NY in June of 1965. He is the middle child in a family of five with an older sister and a younger brother. Steve's father retired from IBM over twenty years ago after working for the company a similar number of years. His mother worked as well as an office employee for an insurance company. The Smith family regularly attended Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church in Johnson City, NY. Steve served as an Alter Boy for several years and participated in the parish Youth Group.
Steve learned as a young boy that he could earn money by doing odd jobs around his neighborhood and community. He mowed lawns, cleaned cars and moved trash cans to and from the curb for many people in his community. At twelve years old Steve began working as a paperboy on a small route with growth potential. Within one year he sold enough subscriptions to make his route the largest in town.
Steve’s interest in the housing trades led him to seek out electricians, plumbers and carpenters around town who would allow him to help out and learn the trades first hand. From the ages of twelve to eighteen, Steve worked with tradesmen as he developed a complete understanding of the home construction industry. At the age of eighteen he was operating his own successful handyman service.
Steve joined the Army in November of 1984 and headed to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri for basic training. After having earned the company leader position and excelling at all events, Steve became ill with double pneumonia and was discharged in February of 1985 due to contracting asthma. Ask him to tell the story sometime; he is proud of his short time in the Army.
Upon returning home, Steve resumed his handyman work and began working as the sole employee for a small family owned flooring business. He managed to handle the sales, warehouse, delivery, shipping and receiving operations including learning from the owner about the regulations and red tape paperwork involved in running a small business.
Steve was offered an opportunity to leave the flooring industry and join the trucking industry. He accepted the offer and quickly earned his Commercial Drivers License. After working as a driver, dockworker and performing some office duties, Steve learned that this industry also dealt with a great deal of government regulations. The family owned and operated trucking company he worked for eleven years went out of business in 2002. The increased regulations in New York State and the Federal Government became too much for the company to handle.
Now out of work and realizing that the economy was falling apart in New York, Steve and his family moved to Maryland for a fresh start and new opportunities. Steve gained employment in the housing industry once again. He worked as an associate at the Home Depot company, EXPO Design Center in Columbia, MD. His abilities and talents were recognized as he was recruited out of the retail company to join a countertop company where he stayed for two years. His professional and caring reputation led him to join a well known kitchen company where he worked until the housing industry fell apart in 2007.
Since 2007 Steve (a career blue collar worker) found himself struggling to find a full-time job for the first time in his life. He applied for over 3000 positions and was called for a mere 20 interviews with no offers for employment. Over the past three years he worked a handfull of temporary part-time positions as he continued to seek a full-time career. Steve became discouraged by what he was experiencing and began seeking a way to make a difference. He looked toward his interest in history and the political processes and decided that he must get involved.
In 2010 Steve began what is intended to be an American history lesson plan. With his American Pride Show he presents a speech about the history of the Pledge of Allegiance. Steve has travelled all across Maryland with a man who was running for the Maryland U.S. Senate. He decided that it was time to pursue elected office himself and subsequently resigned his Deputy Political Director position. Steve is now running for one of Maryland’s District 11 Delegate seats.
Steve Smith's wide background also includes working in the entertainment industry and hobbies including writing and woodworking.