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. 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 raised $15,434 for her campaign. Her narrow win over
Jamie Parsons was partly attributed to fellow candidate Mark Farmer's withdrawal from the race.
Mayor of Juneau As mayor, Smith opposed moving the seat of the state government out of Juneau. 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. 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, 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.
2003 regular election Smith initially intended to seek reelection in 2003, but later opted out of the race, instead endorsing
Bruce Botelho, who would be elected mayor. ==Personal life==