Virgil Smith, Jr.

Virgil K Smith (born December 18, 1979) is a Democratic former member of the Michigan House of Representatives and Michigan Senate. Smith previously represented the 4th Senate district, which is composed of Allen Park, Lincoln Park, Southgate and the north side of Detroit. From 2003 to 2008, Smith represented State House district 7, comprising the northern tier of Detroit.

Personal life Smith is the son of Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan of retired Chief Judge and former Michigan State Senator Virgil C. Smith. In 2000, he was arrested for possessing alcohol whilst underage.

On May 6, 2009, Smith married Anistia Thomas. Smith filed for divorce in July 2009 and Thomas counter-sued for an annulment. Smith consented and it was granted on October 6, 2009. In May, 2015, Smith was charged with felonious assault, domestic violence, malicious destruction of property and felony firearm charges after he shot Thomas's car. Thomas was granted a Personal Protection Order against Smith as a result of the incident. In 2016, Smith plead guilty to the malicious destruction of personal property, a felony, and was sentenced to ten months in prison.

Education Smith did his undergraduate studies at Michigan State University earning a degree in political science. He received his master's degree in public administration from Western Michigan University. He ran again in 2016 against Rashida Tlaib, and was re-elected. The plea deal initially required Smith to resign senate seat and not run for public office for five years, but the county circuit overseeing the case judged that such a clause would violate the state constitution. Smith finished second in the August primary, where he faced Roy McCalister Jr. on the general election ballot. Smith went on to lose the general election to McCalister.