Former State Party First Vice-Chair, and former State Party Minority Affairs Chair, Ed Smith passed away Sunday morning. He was 56 years old.

With over 65 campaigns and political committees on his resume, Ed Smith redefined the term "party activist." In the 2000 Gore-Lieberman campaign alone, Ed served as Co-Chair of the N.C. Gore-Lieberman Steering Committee, and as a member of the national steering committees of African-Americans for Gore-Lieberman and Americans with Disabilities for Gore-Lieberman. Ed served in similar positions in the 1996 Clinton-Gore campaign, while also serving as the Clinton-Gore whip at the National Convention. A graduate of St. Andrews Presbyterian College, Ed spent most of his career in state government, rising to the position of Director of the Civil Rights Division of the state Office of Administrative Hearings. He also served on the executive committee of the Governor's Advocacy Council for Persons with Disabilities.

“Ed Smith exhibited the courage and conviction that all Democrats aspire to,” said NCDP Chair Jerry Meek. “He soared to new heights, never letting his battle with polio limit his contributions to our Party and our community. His loss is a tremendous loss for our Party and our State.”