DAVID A. SMITH is a partner in the Princeton Public Affairs Group, is a veteran of the public affairs arena and has successfully managed public affairs campaigns impacting auto insurance, life insurance, tort reform and environmental legislative initiatives. Mr. Smith received national acclaim when he was honored with a ""Pollie Award"" by the American Association of Political Consultants and named to their United States ""Public Affairs Team of the Year." Mr. Smith was also named one of the most influential players in New Jersey's Healthcare arena by the Annual HealthSense Listing. Since 2005, Mr. Smith has been a Commissioner on the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (nominated by the Governor for two separate four year terms and confirmed by the NJ Senate) and currently serves as an Officer on the Commission (Secretary). Mr. Smith serves on the National Board of Directors of the Public Affairs Council, and was one of the few contract lobbyists in the Country to be appointed to a National Task Force charged with creating ethical standard for lobbyists throughout the United States. Mr. Smith is a founder and member of the Board of Directors of ProtectingAmerica.org, an advocacy organization Co-chaired by James Lee Witt, former Cabinet member under President Clinton and Admiral James Loy, Deputy Director of Homeland Security under President Bush. Mr. Smith also serves as an Officer (1st Vice President) of the New Jersey Hall of Fame Foundation Board of Directors and also serves on the Executive Committee (Secretary) of The Advocacy Group (TAG). Finally, Mr. Smith serves on the Board of Directors as an officer (Treasurer) of the State Capitol Insurance Company RRG, the first professional liability company for lobbyists headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mr. Smith has appeared on television and radio stations representing clients' interests, authored dozens of articles on politics/policy issues in New Jersey and is a frequent guest speaker/lecturer at national and state conferences, legislative hearings, meetings and seminars. He has been a consultant to statewide and legislative political campaigns and is a member of the Executive Finance Committee of the Assembly Democratic Leadership Committee as well as the New Jersey State Democratic Committee. Prior to joining the firm in 1995, Mr. Smith served as Director of Policy and Planning for the New Jersey General Assembly Democratic Office. In that capacity, Mr. Smith supervised the partisan staff of all Assembly Committees and Task Forces while serving as senior staff aide to the insurance and commerce legislative committees. He was a Director with the New Jersey Dental Association from 1985 to 1990 and served on several national and state health care and insurance advisory committees.

Mr. Smith was awarded a Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) Degree from the Richard D. Irwin Graduate School of The American College. He is a Graduate Fellow of the Public Affairs Institute, a three year educational program of the Public Affairs Council located in Washington, DC. Mr. Smith also graduated with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science from Gettysburg College.

6-10 years

William ("Bill") Smith brings to Cornerstone a wealth of experience in politics and government affairs, particularly working with the financial services industry in Illinois. Prior to joining Cornerstone, he served as General Counsel to a state chartered community bank which managed more than one billion dollars in assets and operated subsidiary insurance and title insurance agencies. In that role, Bill worked at the state and national levels on legislative initiatives that affected the industry.

Bill has experience working on campaigns at every level of government in the State of Illinois including executive offices, legislative and judicial. He has served on the Legislative Division of the Community Bank Association of Illinois. In 2011, the Illinois Supreme Court selected Bill to serve on its foreclosure crisis commission to develop recommendations on legislative and procedural changes to address the impact of the foreclosure crisis throughout the state.

Based upon his significant experience and network of relationships, Bill provides his clients with a strong and experienced advocate in the state legislative and regulatory arenas. In addition to his state experience and contacts, he maintains very good working relationships with the members and staff of the Illinois congressional delegation.

Bill graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1988 with a B.A in Government and DePaul University College of Law in 1991 where he graduated cum laude and was inducted into the Order of the Coif.

20+ years

Johnston Planning and Zoning Commission?Member

Pioneer Lawmakers Association?Honorary Member

I received my B.A. in History at Coe College in Cedar Rapids. Specializing in American History, taking as many classes as possible from one of Coe's professors who had written several books on President Herbert Hoover. Received my J.D. with distinction in 1988 from the University of Iowa Law School. My first job out of law school was with West Publishing Company annotating statutes. In 1989 I took a job with the Iowa Legislature drafting bills and amendments and the rest is history. In addition to government practice, I am the Director of the Drake University Law School's Legislative Practice Center. I teach legislative classes and work with law student interns.

20+ years

Volunteer Firefighter - City of Milford
Fire Commissioner City of Milford
Emergency Medical Technician (Chamberlain Ambulance)
Harbor Management Commission
Board Member - Milford Mental Health
Historic District Commission
Vice Chairman Milford's 350th Celebration Committee
Vice Chairman Founders Walk Committee
Chairman Downtown River-High Street Committee
Commissioner - Judicial Selection

Pete is a former state representative from Milford's 119th district. During his time in the legislature, he was known for building consensus around issues and his passion for constituent causes. Serving as co-chair of the Conservation and Development sub-committee of the Appropriations Committee, Vice Chair of the Commerce Committee, and as a member of the Environment and Transportation Committees.

Pete joined the firm after four years leading the Connecticut Pari-Mutuel Association, becoming the President of the firm in 2006. Pete has served on numerous boards and commissions and was Campaign Chair of State Comptroller Nancy Wyman's 2002 campaign. He currently serves as a Governors Appointee on the Connecticut Judicial Selection Commission. Additionally, he is engaged with several charities that support children and their families battling cancer

A Tallahassee, Florida native, Clark Smith has more than 26 years' experience in Florida politics. Clark brings a diverse knowledge of Florida government to Southern Strategy Group clients. Clark began his career in 1989 working for the Bob Martinez for Governor Campaign assisting in field director coordination. After serving as a budget analyst for General Government Appropriations in the Florida Senate Appropriations Committee, Clark began a successful lobbying career in the late-1990's. Clark represents clients before the executive and legislative branches of Florida government. Clark is a graduate of Florida State University, and he and his wife, Darica, reside in Tallahassee.

11-15 years

Chris served for 5 years in the administration of former Governor Dannel P. Malloy, most recently in senior staff as the Governor's Director of Policy and Government Affairs. During that time, he has established deep relationships with state agency decision makers. Over the last 20 years, Chris has worked on numerous campaigns for statewide, state legislative, and municipal elections.

Chris re-joined Rome Smith & Lutz after serving five years in the administration of Governor Dannel P. Malloy, most recently as Director of Policy and Government Affairs; the Governor's chief lobbyist. In his position within the administration, Chris oversaw all policy development and implementation of executive branch policies and legislative priorities. In both of his roles previously with Rome Smith & Lutz and with the Governor's Office, Chris has developed strong relationships with hundreds of private sector leaders in the state and the region, legislators and staff on both sides of the aisle, state agency commissioners & senior staff, and municipal officials in his 18 years working in different capacities at the State Capitol.

A native of Glenville, West Virginia, Sarah A. Smith received a B.A. in History and Political Science with a minor in Public Administration from Glenville State College in 2001. Upon graduation, she made her way to Morgantown, WV to attend the West Virginia University College of Law.

After graduating from law school in 2004, Smith decided to pursue her love of politics and began working for newly elected Governor Joe Manchin III. Smith began her career in government relations during her nearly six (6) years in the Manchin Administration. Her primary role was to act as a liaison between the Legislative Branch and the Executive branch of West Virginia.

In 2010, Smith decided to pursue her Masters in Business Administration and earned that while continuing to work for Manchin. She completed the Executive MBA program from the University of Charleston and soon after took a position with Alpha Natural Resources as its Director of Government and External Affairs. Smith managed all state government interactions and messaging for the Virginia based coal company, including planning and executing a legislative agenda and representing the interests of the company to a wide variety of constituents, both political and otherwise.

The opportunity to work for her Alma Mater motived Smith to take the role of Associate Vice President of State and Local Relations for West Virginia University in late 2013. There she acted as the primary point of contact for WVU with state government leaders and worked to advocate for the interests of WVU in Charleston.

Smith is currently the Executive Vice President of SLS Land & Energy Development, a family business founded by her father in 1978. She is taking a leadership role as part of a succession plan as her father nears retirement. Her expertise and background in the legislative process and state government still drives her to practice government relations with Hartman, Harman and Cosco.

Smith services on the Board of Directors for the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Leadership WV and Vision Shared. She is also an Elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Charleston, WV.