Idaho’s 2nd CD candidate Bryan Smith’s character, career on center stage
By Sven Berg, The Idaho Statesman | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Smith's supporters show an intense loyalty and dedication to him. They say he's fair, professional and competent.
People who don't like Smith really don't like him. They say he's a brute who's unmoved by the plight of people in his cross hairs, no matter how vulnerable they are.
Smith's fellow attorneys agree on one thing about him: He's aggressive.
Is his aggressiveness a good thing? Is he fair? Would he be an effective representative of
FAMILY MAN
Smith entered the race last June to try to unseat eight-term Republican incumbent
Smith and his wife, Sharon, have five children and two grandchildren. They're active members of
The Smiths live in the Southpoint ward on a few acres about a mile south of the corner of
"I really do feel that Sharon and I have had a chance to live the American dream," Smith said. "When I grew up, we never had mandates that if you didn't buy health (insurance) you'd get fined. We never had the kind of overreaching federal government that we have today in just about all aspects of our lives.
"It's going to take people who have tremendous resolve to stand up for what I would say are conservative principles in
ATTENTION GAP
Outsiders seem to be the people paying the closest attention to Smith's campaign. National groups such as the hard-right
Simpson, meanwhile, has attracted the endorsements of mainstream Republican supporters, such as the
According to the
Political pundits are following the race closely, calling it one of the most important in the national midterm elections and a bellwether in the fight for control of the
But around
"I told him he could do it. I have no idea who the guy is," Morris said. "I'm not going to vote in this election. I just vote for presidents."
Efforts to contact that bishop were unsuccessful.
Another woman with a Smith yard sign said her neighbor asked permission to put it there.
The highest-profile Smith arrays are on ground owned by
ATTORNEY
Smith, 51, was born in
Smith graduated from the
Smith's investigation of
Simpson's campaign managers have made Smith's career their main focus in attack ads. They ridicule him for being a personal injury lawyer, but Smith downplayed that area of his practice. He said fewer than one in 100 cases his firm handles has to do with personal injuries.
Simpson's campaign has also pointed out that in 2003, Smith opposed a state tort reform bill that sought to lower limits on noneconomic damages and cap punitive damages in civil lawsuits. It was the kind of bill Republicans love and Democrats hate. Smith argued that the bill would discourage settlements between parties and lead to more trials.
He told the state
Smith stands by his opposition to the law.
"The state of
'A GREAT ADVOCATE'
"Bryan is a great advocate. He does what he says and he says what he does," Kunde said. "He won't get caught up (in
As a candidate, Smith has tried to rally his connections in
It's unclear how much money that letter helped Smith raise.
Smith believes tort reform is not a federal issue. Each state should handle the issue, Brown said.
DEBT COLLECTOR
In 2001, Smith founded Medical Recovery Services, a collection firm that specializes in medical debt. He said the company grew out of his relationship with several clients who were doctors and wanted him to help them collect money their patients hadn't paid.
Diversified Equity Systems, another collection firm from which Smith earns money, was founded in 2010.
State records show that Medical Recovery Services and Diversified Equity Systems have been involved in more than 10,000 court cases across
The collection companies work hand-in-hand with Smith's law firm. They buy debt from doctors, short-term lenders and other creditors. It's unclear how many cents on the dollar they pay.
Judges often award less money in attorney fees than
"Sometimes he's just being penalized for his success," Tolson said.
BUSINESSMAN
In 2008, Smith removed his name from Medical Recovery Services paperwork. As of 2013, he was still earning money from Diversified Equity Systems, according to a financial disclosure statement filed with the
"I don't even do them," he said in an interview with the Statesman on
But in the past year, Smith filed documents in at least 15 bankruptcy cases in which Medical Recovery Services is a creditor, according to federal and state court records. His law firm's filings name him as the lead attorney in at least six of the lawsuits -- between 2009 and 2011 -- that led to those bankruptcy cases.
"(Seven years ago) was when he left day-to-day operations of the company to another attorney in the firm," Brown said in an email Tuesday. "Certainly his name is on a few things, but he was and is not intimately involved in the daily operations."
"They're known for being extremely aggressive, not negotiating, no matter what the people's situation is," Taggart said. "A lot of your collection agencies will negotiate with people. (Medical Recovery Services is) known for not negotiating. It's basically, 'We want it all. And we want it now.' "
Medical Recovery Services' focus on unpaid medical bills means the company is collecting -- or trying to collect -- from vulnerable people, Taggart said. When people can't pay medical bills, it's usually because they couldn't afford insurance. Taggart said MRS, and particularly Smith, earned the reputation of being bullies in
"Nothing could be further from the truth," Smith said. "In fact, what I would tell you is one of the reasons our business has grown is because of how benevolent and cooperative we've been. We know that these are doctors' patients, so we are very good about setting up payment terms with people. We are very patient.
"Now, that's not to say that everybody's going to be happy when you come asking to pay a bill. But all of the people we deal with, we have a very good track record and experience."
Tolson said Smith is both fair and effective in the courtroom. He thinks those qualities would translate to the
"When I confront him with something that's not fair, he's always really good to work it out," Tolson said. "He's pretty practical."
NEIGHBORS
The most remarkable collection of pro-Simpson signs in
Bennett didn't mince words. He called Smith "pompous," "arrogant" and a few other things that can't be printed. He said Smith habitually trespassed on his property by using a road on its southern edge without permission. Smith has been confrontational at every turn, he said.
"You can't reason with people like this. You can't," Bennett said. "It's just series after series of bad judgments. And bad judgments isn't the kind of thing you want to send (to
Petersen said Smith's communication skills and fairness would serve
"He's a straight shooter. When he says he's going to do something, he gets it done," Petersen said. "He doesn't pull any punches. When he wants to voice his opinion, he makes sure it's known."
___
(c)2014 The Idaho Statesman (Boise, Idaho)
Visit The Idaho Statesman (Boise, Idaho) at www.idahostatesman.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Wordcount: | 2365 |
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News