Shelia Smoot is a Jefferson County Commissioner, a consumer advocate, a radio talk show host, a businesswoman and most importantly the mother of a teenage daughter.

Shelia Smoot, a former award-winning investigative journalist, is an elected member of the Jefferson County Commissioner. Commissioner Smoot is the first African American female to ever sit on the Jefferson County Commission and the youngest person to ever serve on the Commission.

Shelia also hosts a daily radio show on WAGG 610 in Birmingham called "Smoot on Your Side" where she continues her advocacy for consumers.  She also focuses on discussing current issues helping her listeners on being well informed citizens.


Political Experience

Shelia was elected in 2002 to her first term as Jefferson County Commissioner of District 2 representing various parts of Birmingham and the Western section of Jefferson County.  She was elected again in 2006 without opposition

Currently Shelia oversees the Information and Technology Department which is committed to making information more accessible to the public.  She also now oversees the Office of Senior Citizens Services where she has instituted such programs as issuing vouchers to seniors for fresh fruits and vegetables at the Alabama Farmers Market.

In her first term, Commissioner Smoot oversaw the Roads and Transportation Department, along with the county's Community, Economic and Workforce Development Department.

Additionally, she also served on the Legislative Committee of the Alabama County Commission Association and currently serves on their Board of Directors. She is the former Southern Regional Director for the National Association of Black County Officials and currently the President of the organization.


Leadership Activities

Shelia sits on a number of national and local boards  but is most proud of her volunteer service with Boy Scouts of America, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the NAACP, The Urban League and the Jaycees. She is also a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

She is also a graduate of Leadership Birmingham (2000) and Leadership Alabama (2004).


Democratic Party Involvement

Commissioner Smoot is s econd Vice Chairperson of the Alabama Democratic Conference and she is on the Executive committee of the Alabama Democratic Party.

In 2004 and 2008, she served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

Education

Commissioner Smoot holds a bachelor's Degree in Telecommunications from Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan. She was born in Flint Michigan. Her parents are Alabama natives who left their home state to work in the auto industry.