A local lawmaker has been tapped to serve as the Ranking Member of the General Law Committee.  New Fairfield state Representative Richard Smith, who was sworn in for his fourth term last week, will help oversee all matters relating to the Department of Consumer Protection, fair trade and sales practices, consumer protection, mobile homes and occupational licensing; and all matters relating to alcoholic beverages.  Smith is the top House Republican on the General Law Committee.  Smith says voters in the last election could not have made their point more clearly: they are dissatisfied with state government and demand legislators work together to restore confidence in Connecticut’s economy.