State Rep. Vance Smith of Pine Mountain, a transportation leader in the Georgia General Assembly, is the new Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation.. Smith, a member of the legislature for 12 years serves as chairman of the House Transportation Committee. It has been suggested for weeks tha Smith was favored for the position by enough members of the Board to earn him the positiion. One member of the board said on Wednesday that no surprises were expected at today’s meeting. Smith is a graduate of Columbus State University and has spent thirty years in the construction and earth moving business. His official bio on the state website says he hopes to expand the vision of transportation and infrastructure needs to not only the Metro Atlanta region, but to the rural home and all of Georgia. Georgians will have reason to be proud of the DOT board for showing good judgement in picking someone of the great personality and special abilities as Vance Smith to head this major state department.
