It’s too bad, it’s quite sad, and it’s also stupid.
And now it’s over.
Sen. Virgil Smith has announced his intention to resign from his seat in the Michigan Legislature, a seat he has occupied since 2009. His formal resignation becomes effective as of April 12. From the Detroit Free Press:
“It was those shots fired into her Mercedes-Benz that resulted in felony charges of malicious destruction of property over $20,000, using a firearm during the commission of a felony and a misdemeanor domestic violence charge being filed against Smith.
“In a deal struck with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office, Smith pleaded guilty to the destruction of property charge and was sentenced to 10 months in the Wayne County Jail, five years of probation. He also must refrain from using alcohol, comply with mental health treatment and stay away from his ex-wife.”
Domestic disputes such as what led to Smith’s downfall are often messy and emotional, and the reported details of what transpired between Smith, his ex-wife, and another woman Smith was involved with are about as messy and emotional as it gets. Not to mention the shots he fired at his ex-wife’s Mercedes Benz that never did a thing to anybody.
Smith did the right thing in resigning this seat, not that he really had much choice. Because one way or another he was going two be removed. But it would have been much worse for him – and for whatever Smith’s future may hold – had he been portrayed as a disgraced former legislator who refused to give up his taxpayer-funded paycheck even while behind bars. He screwed up in a big way, and he knows it. So the best thing he could do is to let it go and put it behind him.
Meanwhile, and more importantly, it is Smith’s constituents who now need effective representation. The faith they placed in Smith to get the job done has been squandered by an act of selfishness, because the one thing Smith was not thinking of on the night in question was the people he represented. Because once you are elected to public office, it is pretty much Public Office 101 that you no longer represent just yourself. It’s not about you.
Now it’s time to find someone to fill that seat who understands that.
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