I had not seen Ken Smith for a long time and when I opened the Union this morning I saw his obituary stating he had passed away last October HERE is the Unions obituary. When I saw him last, Ken appeared frail and at 94 or so, he still had the stature of a officer in our military. I met him back in 1984 or so. He was the Planning Commissioner for Karsten Hansen, Supervisor from the Third District.
Over the years I got to know hime better and we shared a similar philosophy on the Constitution and property rights. Ken was dismissed as a Commissioner when Hansen lost a reelection bid but returned years later to once again be a Commissioner for another Supervisor. He was a nice man and though stern with people voicing outrageous things in public hearings, he treated people with the respect they deserved. Being retired from the military he had a world view that reminded me of why America was so great. Ken had fought in many wars and like my dad, was very protective of the country and its founding documents. Freedom from government overreach was something Ken Smith believed in his heart.
I saw him make his points on freedom and property rights many times as a Commissioner during our General Plan hearings of the mid 90's. He did not bloviate for hours like other Commissioners who were so self important. Ken was usually short and to the point. Simple answers were just that and he had no need to impress others with confusing explanations on a person's rights. He had fought for those rights unlike many of the people testifying at the hearings. They would make statements about others property and how the government should control them. Ken had little patience for that attitude (I called it stupidity) and a person or group would get a lesson in freedom hopefully they would never forget.
I recall Ken telling me one time how he had to give up downhill skiing now that he 80 years old. Wow! He was getting to the place where bones are more brittle and he was a realist. He was also a visitor to the CABPRO offices every once in a while and we would have talks about property rights and the latest outrage the government was foisting on people who had land. He would shake his head and say he was so disappointed in how the system controlling or trying to control us, had forgotten the reasons he and others had gone to war.
If I am recalling correctly, Ken was also a painter. I visited him and his wife at their home on Ridge Road and he took me around the house and showed me his handiwork. He was prolific in his hobby and all the walls were covered with paintings! He was a good painter from my recollection.
So, a real hero for freedom and property rights has passed on to heaven and Ken Smith will be missed. Men like him still are out there and we should all say a prayer for Ken and his wife, they are the real freedom fighters. Ken Smith, you are missed, goodbye old friend.
