Republican gubernatorial hopeful Fred Smith writes in his memoir that “North Carolina needs a chief executive who understands the first, unspoken rule of leadership: show up.”

Smith should take his own advice.

He missed more than 300 votes this year, according to statistics from the General Assembly’s Legislative Drafting Division.

The Greensboro News & Record also tagged Fred Smith as missing a quarter of all votes taken this year, or 318 out of 1,238.

As an absentee state senator, Fred Smith missed crucial votes on education, mental health parity, the environment, and growth.

For Fred Smith, actions speak louder than words.

"Fred Smith talks a big game even when his record doesn't support the talk,” NCDP Chair Jerry Meek said. “ Voters deserve an elected official who will actually show up for work. Of course, given the way Fred Smith votes, perhaps voters would be better off if he had missed more votes."