Newt Gingrich protege Princella Smith has formed an exploratory committee to look at a possible Republican race for the 1st District seat being vacated by Democratic incumbent Rep. Marion Berry.

Smith was raised in Wynne and is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University.

In addition former U.S. House Speaker Gingrich, Smith was communications director for Republican Louisiana Congressman Joseph Cao, the late Arkansas Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller, former Gov. and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele’s U.S. Senate campaign, and U.S. Congressman John Boozman, R-Rogers.

A political advocate and activist, Smith was a featured speaker at the 2004 Republican  National Convention.

Chad Causey, Berry’s former chief of staff, also is considering running for the seat, as is former state Sen. Tim Wooldridge, a Democrat from Paragould.

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