Clem Smith

Clem Smith is a Missouri State Representative.

Free Mumia Abu-Jamal

In 2008 Clem Smith, member of CBTU; member of UAW Local 163, St Louis, MO signed a statement circulated by the Partisan Defense Committee calling for the release of convicted “cop-killer” Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Government has a responsibility...

"Government has a responsibility to assist people in these hard economic times," former United Auto Workers member Clem Smith told a crowd of about 150 protesters on the Missouri state Capitol steps here March 4 2010.

Smith, now a machinist employed at Boeing, knows "first-hand the positive role government can play in creating job opportunities for the unemployed".

In May 2009, like thousands of other Missouri Chrysler employees, Smith was laid off.

"After 13 years of loyal service," he told the Communist Party USA's People's World, March 5, 2010, "I was unemployed. I looked for a job. I got my resume in order. But there were no jobs."

Fortunately for Smith, he was able to get into a state-funded training program run by St. Louis Community College that "allowed my auto work experience to translate into aerospace work."

After being accepted into the jobs training program, Smith attended 10 weeks of training at the St. Louis Career Center.

"It is precisely these types of government-funded training programs that can help the dislocated, the under-employed and the unemployed get back to work," Smith said. "It is precisely these types of programs that can provide the jobs that can get our economy back on track, not corporate bailouts."

Communist Party support

Tony Pecinovsky has worked as a union organizer, advocacy journalist and District Organizer for the MO/KS Communist Party.

In 2010 he served in the following capacities: secretary-treasurer, Greater St. Louis CWA City Council; secretary, St. Louis area Jobs with Justice Leadership Team; St. Louis area Pro-Vote board member; and the St. Louis Newspaper Guild.

Pecinovsky has worked on "numerous key progressive electoral campaigns" including: John Bowman (D70), Jeanette Mott Oxford (D59), Robin Wright-Jones (5th Senate District) and Clem Smith (D71).

Leftist state rep

"In other words," freshman state Rep. Clem Smith, D-71, told the Communist Party USA's People's World, Jan. 27, 2011, "Republicans want to give tax breaks to the rich. They want to let corporations have free rein. They want to weaken unions. And they want to destroy our social safety net."

"How is that a 'change' in culture," he asked?

Smith, a former union autoworker and current union machinist, won a hard-fought primary election last August in St. Louis' North County, a predominantly African American working class community.

"As a union member," Smith continued, "I know tax breaks for the rich and corporations will not create good paying union jobs with benefits, health care and a pension. Tax breaks will, however, make the rich richer."

References

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