Preston Smith

A freshman Georgia State Senator elected from District 52. He earned a B.A. in Business Administration from Southern Baptist Convention affiliated Baylor University and a J.D. from the University of Georgia before turning to electoral politics.

Republican candidate Smith was elected in 2002 by defeating Democratic candidate Dick Marable, winning 16,957 votes (54.2%) to 14,329 votes (45.8%). Effective mobilization of white voters in his majority white north Georgia mountain district using the social issues of the Christian Right, the ambitious Smith is considered by many a likely challnger and successor to the more moderate Republican Member of the U.S. House for the 11th Congressional District Phil Gingrey.

Smith is a Member of the Board of Directors for Summit Ministries, an organization dedicated to preventing Christian youth from losing their faith while in college or university to Darwinism, naturalism, pluralism, relativism, "and many others.".