Ace Smith tells his story

Among the ranks of California’s top-drawer political strategists, one name invariably stands out – Ace Smith. The San Francisco-based consultant has participated in dozens of state, local and federal campaigns, including races in other states from Florida to Texas to Chicago. In a new Oral History, Smith shares the story of his life in politics.

Ace – his given name is Averell, but his nickname stuck – cut his political teeth decades ago on the successful campaign of his father, Arlo Smith, for district attorney of San Francisco. Later, Arlo ran for state attorney general but lost by an eyelash; Memories of that race and the lessons learned remain vivid more than 30 years later. Smith’s more recent efforts include the launching of Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign and the handling of Rick Caruso’s unsuccessful fight against Karen Bass for mayor of Los Angeles. The latter effort drew surprise from some of Smith’s friends, who wondered why the staunch Democrat was handling the Republican Caruso.

Campaign strategy aside, Smith is also viewed as a deft practitioner of the art of opposition research, in which an opponent’s frailties and missteps are brought to light and exploited in the harsh arena of public scrutiny. Humphrey Bogart told the cops in the Maltese Falcon that “everybody has something to conceal,” and that’s as true for political candidates as anyone else. Smith said effective opposition research – which he described as “due diligence” — depends not only on digging out the information, but figuring out best way of getting it out to the public.

Political reporter Carla Marinucci, who has known Smith for years and followed campaigns throughout the state, interviewed him at his offices on Samson Street in downtown San Francisco. The interview is part of Capitol Weekly’s Oral History series, funded through the California State Library and nonprofit Open California, publisher of Capitol Weekly.