Sarah J. Smith (born January 23, 1945) is an American politician. She was a member of the Alaska Legislature in the 1970s and 1980s, and the mayor of Juneau, Alaska, from 2000 to 2003. She later worked as a field representative for United States Senator Mark Begich.
Early life and education
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.
Career
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 governorWilliam A. Egan and in the Department of Community and Regional Affairs.
Smith worked for the Fairbanks-based nonprofit Northern Alaska Environmental Center.[when?][1]
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.[1]
2000 regular election
She ran for the office of mayor of Juneau in the general election held on October 3, 2000.[3] She raised $15,434 for her campaign.[4] Her narrow win over Jamie Parsons was partly attributed to fellow candidate Mark Farmer's withdrawal from the race.[5]
Candidate
Votes
Mark Farmer
435
Jamie Parsons
5,129
Sally Smith
5,349
Patty Zimmerman
523
Write-in
80
Mayor of Juneau
As mayor, Smith opposed moving the seat of the state government out of Juneau.[6] 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.[7] 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,[8] 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,[9] but later opted out of the race, instead endorsing Bruce Botelho, who would be elected mayor.[10]
