Belmont A. Smith
Belmont A. Smith | |
|---|---|
| Maine State Treasurer | |
| In office 1937–1943 | |
| Preceded by | Louis H. Winship |
| Succeeded by | Joseph H. McGillicuddy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 2, 1874 Newburgh, Maine, U.S. |
| Died | February 23, 1951 (aged 76) Bangor, Maine, U.S. |
| Resting place | Mount Hope Cemetery Bangor, Maine, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse |
|
| Children | 2 |
Belmont Ashton Smith (April 2, 1874 – February 23, 1951) was an American businessman and politician who was Maine State Treasurer from 1937 to 1943.
Early life
Smith was born in Newburgh, Maine, on April 2, 1874, to James and Jane (Rogers) Smith. He was educated at the Maine Central Institute. On January 12, 1900, he married Harriett B. Smith in Orrington, Maine. They had two sons.[1]
Business
Smith was a salesman for the Thomas Long Company of Boston for several years. He helped established the Smith Company of Corinna, Maine, was a director of the Corinna Trust Company, and was an executive with Blake, Barrows & Brown, an insurance agency.[1]
Politics
Smith was a member of the Maine executive council during the administration of governor Owen Brewster.[1] In 1935, he was a member of the Maine House of Representatives. He was reelected in 1936, but quickly resigned to seek the office of state treasurer, which had been vacant since the death of George S. Foster earlier that year.[2] Smith was unopposed for the Republican nomination and was elected by the Maine Legislature in January 1937.[3][4] He was reelected in 1939.[5]
In April 1940, state controller William A. Runnells was charged with embezzlement and Governor Lewis O. Barrows demanded the resignations of Runnells, Smith, Maine State Auditor Elbert D. Hayford, deputy state treasurer Louis H. Winship, and state commissioner of finance William S. Owen. Runnells, Hayford, Winship, and Owen immediately resigned, but Smith refused.[6] On May 29, the Maine Senate voted 26 to 3 to hold hearings on whether Smith should be removed from office[7] On June 6, the Senate voted 15–14 and the House voted 69–55 against removing Smith.[8]
Smith ran for a third term in 1941. No other Republicans chose to enter the race, but representative Charles H. Holman nominated Smith's deputy, Everett W. Downs, at the party's caucus. Smith defeated Downs 98 votes to 55.[9] He did not run for reelection in 1943.[10]
Death
Smith died on February 23, 1951 in Bangor, Maine.[11]
References
- 1 2 3 Hodgkins, Theodore Roosevelt, ed. (1926). Brief Biographies, Maine. Lewiston Journal Company. p. 237. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Smith Resigns as State Representative". The Lewiston Daily Sun. November 21, 1936. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Robie Nominated for Secretary of State, 98 to 48". The Lewiston Daily Sun. January 6, 1937. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Past Week in the State House". The Lewiston Daily Sun. January 11, 1937. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
- ↑ "State Officials Re-Elected". Lewiston Evening Journal. January 4, 1939. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Owens Resigns; Smith Refuses To". The Lewiston Daily Sun. April 18, 1940. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Order Hearing On Smith Ouster". Lewiston Evening Journal. May 29, 1940. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Legislature Upholds Smith; Both Branches Refuse To Remove Him". The Lewiston Daily Sun. June 7, 1940. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Legislature Ousts Burkett, Washburn From State Posts". The Lewiston Daily Sun. January 1, 1941. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Reasurer Fight Is Feature". The Lewiston Daily Sun. January 6, 1943. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Former State Treasurer Belmont A. Smith Dies". Lewiston Evening Journal. February 24, 1951. Retrieved June 21, 2026.