James Gordon Smith

Jim Smith was born in Raleigh and moved to Hickory at age 8. He attended Western Carolina University before transferring to North Carolina State University to study textile management. After graduation, he worked as a patent examiner at the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, D.C. He later moved to Clemmons and became a stay-at-home parent. Smith has been actively involved in his children's schools, serving on PTAs and coaching sports teams. He previously ran for the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Board of Education.