SUMMARY: The designation came from an advocacy group in 2004, when Smith was a member of the Republican Party. In her advertisement, the wording is tricky in that it doesn’t specify who or what body set the designation forth, leaving open the possibility for voters to infer that the accolade was given by her Senate peers, though she does not make that claim.
ANALYSIS: In 2004, Conservative Christians of Alabama ranked members of the Legis-lature based on key votes the organization uses to determine one’s conservative values.
The ranking, measured by former state Republican Party chairman J. Elbert Peters, con-sidered votes on teacher tenure, tax and fee increases, the display of the Ten Commandments in state buildings, budgets, “bingo for books,” alcohol sales at country clubs in dry counties and same-sex marriage.
In the 2004 ranking, Smith led with a rating of 87, followed by Sen. Hank Erwin, R, Montevallo (73), Bradley Byrne, R, Fairhope (70) and Hap Myers, R, Mobile (63). (Source: http://www.ccofal.org/alabama/alabamastatesenate.html)
In a Christian Coalition of Alabama ranking that encompasses 2003 through 2006, Sen. Curt Lee leads the Senate as voting with the Christian Coalition’s position 87 percent of the time, followed by Erwin (83), Myers (82) and Smith (79) and Jabo Waggoner (79). In other words, in the Christian Coalition’s rankings, Smith is tied for third place.
(Source: http://www.ccofal.org/alabama/alabama_christian_coalition_alabama_legislative_senate_ranking_2003-2006.html)
