Linda Collins-Smith

Linda F. Collins-Smith (April 17, 1962 – c. June 4, 2019) was an American businesswoman and politician from Pocahontas, Arkansas, who served a single term from 2015 to 2019 as a Republican member of the Arkansas Senate.[2]

Linda Collins-Smith
Member of the Arkansas Senate from the 19th district
In office January 2015 – January 2019
Preceded by	David Wyatt
Succeeded by	James Sturch
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 61st district
In office January 2011 – January 2013
Preceded by	David R. Cook
Succeeded by	James Sturch
Personal details
Born	(1962-04-17)April 17, 1962[1] Pocahontas, Arkansas, U.S.[1]
Died	c. June 2, 2019(2019-06-02) (aged 57) Pocahontas, Arkansas, U.S.
Political party	Republican (2011–2019)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (before 2011)
Spouse(s)	Philip Smith (div. 2018)
Children	2
Profession	Hotelier

Career

Since at least 2001, Collins-Smith owned and operated the Days Inn in Pocahontas, which was sold in 2016. Before owning Days Inn she was a real estate agent.[3][4] In 2012, Collins-Smith and her husband purchased a non-franchise motel, renovated and opened in 2013. The motel being the only business still owned by Collins-Smith at the time of her death.

Prior to her Senate service, Collins-Smith was a one-term member from 2011 to 2013 of the Arkansas House of Representatives from District 80.[3] Though elected as a Democrat, she switched parties in August 2011, eight months after taking office.[2][5]

In redistricting, Collins-Smith was moved to the same 19th senatorial district as Republican incumbent Lori Benedict. Therefore, Collins-Smith chose to run for the Arkansas Senate in the 19th district, rather than challenge Benedict.[6] Incumbent Democratic Senator David Wyatt defeated her in the 2012 general election, but on November 4, 2014, she beat Democrat James McLean for the seat. Wyatt died shortly thereafter.

In 2017, Collins-Smith introduced Senate Bill 774, the Arkansas Physical Privacy and Safety Act, which would prohibit people, including transgender people, from entering government restrooms or changing facilities designated for the opposite sex, as it pertains to "a person’s immutable biological sex as objectively determined by anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth.”[7][8] She said the bill would set a baseline for privacy across the state and shield public schools from lawsuits by organizations "seeking to impose their anti-privacy agenda on our children."[9] It did not pass.[8]

Personal life

Collins-Smith grew up in rural Williford, Arkansas. Her family was very poor, living 10 miles down a gravel road, in a home that didn't have running water until her teen years. According to her campaign website "her background taught her the value of hard work, and the blessing of living in a land where everyone, from the poor country girl to the inner city street kid, had the opportunity to achieve their dreams through industry and determination."[10]

According to her obituary, "Linda accomplished much good during her lifetime. She was a former Arkansas State Representative and former Arkansas State Senator. In addition, she was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association. She was a member of the following organizations: Gun Owners of America, Arkansas Hospitality Association, National Federation of Independent Business, Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, Randolph County Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Arkansas Lodging Association, Lower Mississippi Delta Development Council, and the Arkansas Federation of Republican Women. Linda was also proud to be the founder of the Randolph County Tourism Association and a supporter of the Patriots of Act 746, in Arkansas."[11]

Collins-Smith was married to Philip Smith, a circuit court judge who was disgraced after a 2017 scandal.[4] She filed for divorce that November.[12] They had two children and three grandchildren.[1]

Murder

On June 4, 2019, Collins-Smith's father and son found her body outside her home in Pocahontas; she had died of stab wounds (initially reported as gunshot wounds).[4][13][14]

On June 17, Rebecca Lynn O’Donnell of Pocahontas, a former campaign worker and personal friend of Collins-Smith, was charged with capital murder, tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse.[15][16][17] She initially pleaded not guilty on all three counts,[13][14] but later guilty of murdering Collins-Smith and abusing her corpse; she was sentenced to 43 years on August 7, 2020.[18]

See also

• List of American politicians who switched parties in office

References

1. "Obituary: Linda F. Collins of Pocahontas, Arkansas: 1962 - 2019". Fears Family Funeral Home. Archived from the original on July 6, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
2. "Rep. Collins-Smith Joins Republican Ranks (updated)". Talkbusiness.net. August 8, 2011. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
3. "Local News: Collins-Smith seeks District 80 State Rep position (07/09/09)". Area Wide News. July 9, 2009. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
4. "Former state senator found dead from gunshot wound". Magnolia Reporter. June 4, 2019. Archived from the original on June 5, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
5. Andrew Demillo (August 10, 2011). "Arkansas Rep. Linda Collins-Smith switches to GOP". Deseret News. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
6. Tammy Curtis (November 26, 2011). "Local News: Collins-Smith announces State Senate candidacy". Area Wide News. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
7. "New bill specifies use of bathrooms in Arkansas government buildings". Arkansas Online. Archived from the original on March 8, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
8. ""Arkansas Physical Privacy and Safety Act (SB 774)", Rewire.News Legislative Tracker". Archived from the original on August 12, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
9. TEGNA. "Ark. legislator proposes 'bathroom bill' after other legislator withdraws previous bill". KTHV. Archived from the original on March 8, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
10. McBride, Jessica (June 5, 2019). "Linda Collins-Smith: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
11. "Linda Collins Obituary".
12. Michael Hibblen (June 10, 2019). "Services Scheduled For Former Arkansas State Sen. Linda Collins-Smith". KUAR. Archived from the original on June 11, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
13. "Rebecca O'Donnell facing death penalty in former Sen. Collins murder case". KTHV. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
14. "Prosecutors to seek death penalty for suspect in shooting death of former senator". ABC News. Archived from the original on December 3, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
15. "Arrest made in connection to death of Linda Collins-Smith". THV11. June 17, 2019 [June 14, 2019]. Archived from the original on June 15, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
16. Ashe Schow (June 15, 2019). "Arrest Made In Connection With Shooting Death Of Former Arkansas State Senator". Daily Wire. Archived from the original on June 16, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
17. Andrew Demillo (June 17, 2019). "Arkansas woman charged with murder in ex-senator's killing". Houston Chronicle. AP. Archived from the original on June 17, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
18. "Ex-aide pleads guilty to murder of conservative Arkansas state senator Linda Collins". foxnews.com. August 7, 2020. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020.

External links

• Profile at Vote Smart

Arkansas Senate
Preceded by David W. Wyatt	Arkansas State Senator for District 19 (including Randolph County) 2015–2019	Succeeded by James Sturch
Arkansas House of Representatives
Preceded by David R. Cook	Arkansas State Representative for District 80 (Crawford and Washington counties) 2011–2013	Succeeded by Charlene Fite