Raised in Highlands, Texas, Barry Smitherman initially set his sights on the world of finance. But a funny thing happened on the way to the top: an op-ed he cowrote on reforming Houston's finances led to him getting fired from his high-profile post at Bank One.
At age 42, Smitherman had to start over, accepting a post as a "baby" prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney's office. Out the blue came an appointment from the Governor to serve on the Texas Public Finance Authority and then the Public Utility Commission, where he became chairman. In 2012, He was elected to the Railroad Commission, which he chairs.
These days, Smitherman, one of three prominent Republican candidates for Texas Attorney General, looks back on his firing and sees it as a blessing, saying he likely would have never pursued a political career otherwise.
In this wide-ranging interview with KUT Senior Political Correspondent Ben Philpott and Texas Standard Host David Brown, Smitherman talks about a range of issues – from border security to the AG's law enforcement function and free speech in the workplace, among other topics.
We've invited all the candidates in the major statewide races to join us in the studio for 'get-to-know-you' sessions. We'll be sharing them with you on the air at 90.5 and online right here.
Smitherman faces state Rep. Dan Branch and state Sen. Ken Paxton on primary day, Tuesday, Feb. 4.
