Tom "Smitty" Smith

Region: Hill Country

Topics: Renewable Energy, Energy, Pesticides, Air Pollution, Lobbying, Campaign Finance, Ethics, Government, Non-Profit, Public Citizen

Mr. Smith has served as state director of the Texas office of Public Citizen in Austin since 1985. Prior to joining Public Citizen, he was a VISTA volunteer, a legal assistant, legislative aide, director of the Houston Foodbank, and operator of a anti-hunger advocacy program. Public Citizen is a consumer and environmental group active in issues concerning energy, environment, ethics and campaign finance reform, trade agreements with Mexico, and urban sprawl. Mr. Smith is noted as an effective public interest lobbyist, and has been most involved with pesticide use reduction and energy reform, including successfully advocating for renewable energy utilities, diesel emission reduction, clean vehicle incentives, and energy conservation standards. Aside from his duties at Public Citizen, he serves on the boards of Clean Water Action, the Texas Wind Power Coalition, Texans for Public Justice, Campaigns for People, and Westcave Preserve.

Interviewed

October 14, 2003
Austin, Texas
Reels 2253 and 2254