Former House Speaker Resigns

[September 27, 2019]

Former Speaker Ryan Smith (R-Bidwell) will resign as state representative of the 93rd district effective October 3 to become president of Rio Grande Community College and Rio Grande University. 

The resignation was announced in a letter submitted yesterday, though news of the impending move had been widely known at the Statehouse for several weeks.

Earlier this year, Smith lost his bid to retain his position as House speaker to Rep. Larry Householder (R-Glenford). Householder narrowly edged out the incumbent after a months-long battle between the two ended in a 52-46 vote that hinged on the Democrats. Householder had previously served as House speaker in 2001-2004.

Smith initially took over as Speaker in June 2018 when the top leadership position was vacated by former Rep. Cliff Rosenberger, who resigned in April amid an FBI investigation.