elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1996, she served her area’s constituents in

several other ways. She served as chairman for the following organizations- the Newnan-

Coweta Chamber of Commerce, the Newnan–Coweta Carnegie Library, the Newnan-Coweta

Public Library, the Coweta Economic Development partnership, and the Shenandoah Georgia

Youth Science and Technology Center. She also served as president for both the Newnan

Junior Service League and the Driftwood Garden Club. She was a member of the Newnan-

Coweta United Way Board and the Newnan Hospital Board. She continues to serve as a

Georgia Master Gardener, and as a member of both the advisory board for the Newnan

Campus of the University of West Georgia and the Newnan Rotary Club.

Presently, Smith serves as chairman for the House Natural Resources and Environment

Committee. She champions sound environmental policies that protect Georgia’s environment as

well as Georgia’s economy. To that effect, she is the author of several legislative bills that have

become law. She is acclaimed both state-wide and nationally for her leadership in developing

Georgia’s state-wide water plan. Smith serves on the Appropriations, Rules, and

Reapportionment Committees. Besides state committees, Smith currently serves as an

alternate to the Southern States Energy Board (SSEB), and is an appointee/member to the

National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Environment and Agriculture Committees, the

Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) Energy and Environment Committee, and, the American

Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Natural Resources Task Force. She is a former lay

appointee to the State Bar of Georgia Investigative Panel and is a former Vice-Chair of the

NCSL Environment Committee. In 2007, the Stennis Center for Southern Women in Public

Service selected, for the second time, Chairman Smith as a Pace Setter. In 2004, she was 1 of

13 elected board members of The Executive Board of Women’s Legislative Network of the

NCSL. During that same year, she received the Trailblazer Award from the African American

Alliance of Coweta County for her efforts in building community relationships. Smith has

spearheaded the development of Chattahoochee Bend State Park, secured state funding for the

development of Central Education Center, new construction for the West Central Technical

College Campus in Coweta, and grant funding to assist Coweta County in the purchase of the

Brown’s Mill Battlefield land.

Chairman Smith has received numerous other prestigious awards, such as the following-

• Top 100 Most Influential Georgians List, Georgia Trend Magazine

• Top 100 Most Influential Georgians List, Georgia Trend Magazine

• Environmental Leader in Golf Award, Georgia Golf Environmental Foundation

• James Magazine House Hero Award

• Friends of Business Award, Regional Business Coalition

• Tourism Champion Award, Government Category, Governor’s Conference on Tourism

• Winner, Legislative Livestock Showdown, Georgia National Fair

• Voted Legislator of the Year by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce

• Voted One of Georgia’s Most Influential, James Magazine

• Georgia Municipal Association’s "Champion of Cities" Award

• Legislative Achievement Award, Georgia Forestry Association

• Association of County Commissioners Legislative Award

• Association of County Commissioners Legislative Award

• “Gracious Lady of Georgia”

During the 2012 Legislative Session, Smith authored HB1102 which has modifications to the

successful Brownfield program. This program offers liability protection and tax incentives for

those who cleanup environmentally damaged land. Governor Deal signed this bill into law May

first.

Representative Smith and her husband, both UGA graduates, met at the University of Georgia.

They have two daughters and two grandsons. A few years ago they sold Murray Printing

Company, which the representative managed for several years. She also taught French and

Social Studies in the Newnan and Coweta school systems and continues to volunteer in the

schools. Aside from her accomplishments as legislator, mother, business owner and teacher,

Representative Smith is quite the gardener, photographer, and hat collector! In her office you

may enjoy her vibrant photographs of flowers she has cultivated over the years. Just recently

she donated her extensive vintage hats collection of over 300 hats to the Newnan-Coweta

Historical Society, assisting them to offer one of the finest collections in the South!