He was the only consistently sane person on the panel. Godspeed.

He taught at Capital U. Law School here before joining the commission. I assume he will stay in DC and make boatloads of money as a politcal consultant lawyer etc.

FEC member plans return to Columbus
Thursday, June 16, 2005

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Republican who drew frequent criticism from government watchdogs for opposing campaign-finance restrictions said yesterday he is resigning from the Federal Election Commission.

Commissioner Brad Smith plans to rejoin the faculty of the Capital University Law School in Columbus. His resignation takes effect Aug. 21.

In a letter to President Bush, Smith said the commission is a "fairer, more efficient, more streamlined organization" than it was when he joined it five years ago.

But, Smith said, he worries campaign-finance regulations are driving people from politics. With nearly 400 pages of rules for candidates, parties and donors, "political activity is more heavily regulated than at any time in our nation’s history," he wrote.

Smith’s opposition to tougher fundraising rules made him a frequent target for campaign-finance watchdogs, including Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who has urged Smith to resign.

The FEC consists of three Democrats and three Republicans, usually chosen by congressional leaders. But Smith was nominated to the commission in 2000 by then-President Clinton to a term that expired April 30.