Vickie Smith's uncomfortable issue

Disclaimer: I’m a big fan of Vickie Smith.

We’re not close, but I’ve known her for quite a few years. She always presents herself to me as bright, funny, and engaging. Someone with an attention to detail.

Vickie is a Citrus High School teacher, and for 10 years headed up the teachers’ union.

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If ever there was a person qualified for an open seat on the School Board, it’s Vickie Smith.

Except for one thing.

Her husband’s a troublemaker against the very institution she seeks to help lead.

Vickie and I talked about this during a recent Cattle Dog chat, and I hadn’t planned to write anything about her campaign until I’ve spoken to all four District 2 candidates, and I’m still one chat shy.

But then someone sent me a screenshot of Vickie’s husband, former Rep./Commissioner Jimmie T. Smith, openly asking friends who have an ax to grind with fellow candidate Ken Frink to join his wife’s campaign.

It reads:

“I have a question to ask, you knew people who didn’t like Ken Frink. I’m trying to reach out to people who he pisded (stet) on and see if they want to engage with Vickie to help her win.”

I’ll return to that in a moment.

First off, this isn’t about Jimmie T. Smith and his continued assault on Citrus County public education. I’ve covered it fairly well both in the Chronicle and Just Wright Citrus; it’s beyond me why a man of his stature feels this approach is necessary.

That’s his issue.

I also have no interest in the marital life of Jimmie and Vickie Smith. They’re a joyful couple, that I know. Beyond that, none of my beeswax.

You see where I’m going here. It gets a little squeamish when the candidate’s No. 1 fan is also her No. 1 detractor.

During our Cattle Dog chat I flat asked her if we can expect the husband of School Board member Vickie Smith regularly attacking the very people she’s elected to serve with.

It’s a tough spot. She can come down pretty much only one of two ways. One is to totally agree with Jimmie’s approach. Or two, totally disagree with it.

She chose the latter. Vickie said she wished Jimmie didn’t do the things he did in the manner he did them. And she hopes that, if elected, that’ll disappear.

But she also made a very valid point: Jimmie’s his own man and he’s going to do what he wants. Doesn’t mean that’s where SHE stands. Totally get it. Every spouse in Citrus County, if they’re honest, is nodding right now. 

I felt she was fairly frank with me that day. Didn’t change her predicament, but I had a better view of it.​
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On Thursday, someone sent me the screenshot of Jimmie shopping for Vicki supporters among people who Ken Frink had “pisded on.”

The person who sent it to me preceded it with, “You’re not going to believe this,” and, a few minutes later, I stared in disbelief. Didn’t Vickie and I talk about this sort of thing just a few days earlier?

I sent the screenshot Saturday to Vickie, who said that’s the first she’s seen it. While not happy with it, Vickie said it seemed Jimmie was simply looking for people to join the team against a formidable opponent. That seems…a stretch.

She also reiterated her campaign will stay positive.

Some observations:

— If Jimmie T. truly sent out such an offensive appeal without his candidate wife’s knowledge, that’s a red flag. The candidate ALWAYS owns the campaign. Always. Someone goes rogue, that’s on the candidate. No exceptions.

— There is nothing wrong with Jimmie T. seeking campaign support for his wife.

— There’s a right way to do that and a wrong way. Putting in writing you’re specifically looking for people who are enemies of an opponent certainly sounds like dirty pool.

— This isn't about Ken Frink. He has his own challenges, and we’ll get to those another day.

— I wasn’t born last night. Politics isn’t always pretty. But, I’d hope in a School Board race, we’d at least PRETEND to show some dignity. C’mon. This is the job that oversees public schools. You know…kids, parents, teachers, bus drivers, custodians, food service workers, etc. It is ungodly difficult work. Shenanigans are unwelcome here.

What a weird problem to have. Not only is she competing with three qualified opponents, plus a full-time teacher’s job, and the rigors of campaigning, there’s…this.

Politics. It’s always something.

— The race for Clerk of Court dropped from two candidates to one over the weekend. Mike Shier announced on his Facebook page he had decided to drop from the race.

Shier had done very little campaigning against Traci Phillips who is considered the clear choice to replace her boss, the retiring Angela Vick. 

While ballot qualifying is still five weeks away, it seems Phillips may win her first term uncontested.

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