Sally Smith (politician)

Smith was born in Pekin, Illinois on January 23, 1945. She graduated from Pekin Community High School in 1963, then attended the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, where she graduated with a bachelor of science in education in 1967.

Smith moved to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1969. Before entering politics, she worked a variety of jobs, including as a hotel desk clerk, office manager for the Tundra Times, and an expeditor for construction company H. W. Blackstock. From 1971 to 1974, she also held various positions in Alaska state government, including in the office of governor William A. Egan and in the Department of Community and Regional Affairs.

Smith worked for the Fairbanks-based nonprofit Northern Alaska Environmental Center.{{when|date=June 2019}}

Smith served three terms in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1977 to 1983 as a Democrat representing the 20th District, a six-member district (which was without designated seats and elected at-large) covering the Fairbanks North Star Borough and several outlying areas, including Fort Greely.{{cite web |url=http://juneauempire.com/stories/031110/reg_583250930.shtml |title=Begich hires former Juneau mayor |date=March 11, 2010 |work=Juneau Empire |access-date=September 10, 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://juneauempire.com/stories/122804/loc_20041228003.shtml |title=Environmental group hires former Mayor Sally Smith |author=Bluemink, Elizabeth |date=December 28, 2004 |work=Juneau Empire |access-date=September 10, 2011}}

Following her service in the legislature, in which she traveled to Juneau (the state's capital) for legislative sessions, Smith moved to Juneau permanently in 1984, and worked for the state's Department of Administration (under the Division of Retirement and Benefits) and Department of Revenue.

She ran for the office of mayor of Juneau in the general election held on October 3, 2000.[http://www.juneau.org/clerk/elections/results2000.htm Official Municipal Elections Results] She raised $15,434 for her campaign.{{cite web |url=http://juneauempire.com/stories/091403/loc_candidates.shtml |title=Uncontested candidate raises most |author=Inklebarger, Timothy |date=September 14, 2003 |work=Juneau Empire |access-date=September 10, 2011}} Her narrow win over Jamie Parsons was partly attributed to fellow candidate Mark Farmer's withdrawal from the race.{{cite web |url=http://juneauempire.com/stories/080501/Loc_farmer.shtml |title=Farmer to run against Powell for Assembly |author=Markell, Joanna |date=August 5, 2001 |work=Juneau Empire |access-date=September 10, 2011}}

As mayor, Smith opposed moving the seat of the state government out of Juneau.{{cite web |url=http://juneauempire.com/stories/081102/sta_capitolmove.shtml |title=Mayor takes anti-move message on the road |date=August 11, 2002 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=September 10, 2011}} In 2002, she appointed a task force to submit a bid to host the 2006 Arctic Winter Games; the bid was unsuccessful, losing to the one from Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska.{{cite web |url=http://juneauempire.com/stories/100402/loc_arcticgames.shtml |title=City OKs bid for games |author=Markell, Joanna |date=October 4, 2002 |work=Juneau Empire|access-date=September 10, 2011}} Smith was a co-chairwoman of the organizing committee for the portion of the 2002 Winter Olympics torch relay that would run through Juneau on January 24, 2002,{{cite web |url=http://juneauempire.com/stories/111201/Loc_torch.shtml |title=Juneau prepares to take part in next year's Olympic Torch run |author=Chandonnet, Ann |date=November 12, 2001 |work=Juneau Empire |access-date=September 10, 2011}} an event which was overshadowed by the unfurling of a banner by students at Juneau-Douglas High School reading "Bong Hits 4 Jesus", which ultimately resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court case Morse v. Frederick.

Smith initially intended to seek reelection in 2003,{{cite web |url=http://juneauempire.com/stories/080803/loc_peterson.shtml |title=Peterson, Smith, Stone seek city slots |author=O'Malley, Julia |date=August 8, 2003 |work=Juneau Empire |access-date=September 10, 2011}} but later opted out of the race, instead endorsing Bruce Botelho, who would be elected mayor.{{cite web |url=http://juneauempire.com/stories/082803/loc_mayorrace.shtml |title=Former state AG to run for Juneau mayor |author=Inklebarger, Timothy |date=August 28, 2003 |work=Juneau Empire |access-date=September 10, 2011}}

Smith lived near Lawson Creek on Douglas Island, in a small neighborhood between Douglas and West Juneau, during her time as mayor.{{cite web |url=http://juneauempire.com/stories/070501/Loc_Ruling.shtml |title=Ruling may impact tours |author=Markell, Joanna |date=July 5, 2001 |work=Juneau Empire |access-date=September 10, 2011}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://100years.akleg.gov/bio.php?id=1454 Sally Smith] at 100 Years of Alaska's Legislature

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Category:1945 births

Category:Borough assembly members in Alaska

Category:Living people

Category:Mayors of Juneau, Alaska

Category:Democratic Party members of the Alaska House of Representatives

Category:Politicians from Fairbanks, Alaska

Category:People from Pekin, Illinois

Category:University of Illinois College of Education alumni

Category:Women mayors of places in Alaska

Category:Women state legislators in Alaska

Category:21st-century mayors of places in Alaska

Category:20th-century American women politicians

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:20th-century members of the Alaska Legislature