Elaine Smith Wins the Dottie Stimpson Award

Elaine Smith is this year’s Dottie Stimpson Award winner and has served the state of Idaho in the legislature since her first election in 2012. She has been the minority caucus chair in the Idaho House of Representatives for the past four years and has also served on the House State Affairs Committee as one of three Democrats. She also serves on the other committees: Business; Environment, Energy, and Technology; JLOC and PNWREC, which includes the Pacific Northwest and Northwest Canada. As a legislator, she has honored by the Idaho Education Association with the Friend of Education award.

Elaine Smith’s legislative career has helped make Idaho a better place for everyone. She helped establish concussion protocols in youth sports in Idaho and establish legal immunity to people who break into a hot car to save a child. She also co-sponsored a bill in 2020 that establishes Idaho Women’s Day. Her legislative goals are working for a stronger more prosperous Idaho, preparing the next generation of Idahoans for the 21st Century economy, investing in our schools, ensuring that Idaho public land remain in public hands, and fostering a robust business climate that supports entrepreneurs.

She is a member of a variety of organizations including the Pocatello Chiefs (Chamber of Commerce), AAUW, AOP, American Legion Auxiliary, Southeast Idaho Retired Educators, Delta Kappa Gamma, NAACP, and PEO. She had a 25-year career with Pocatello-Chubbuck School District 25, where she worked as a volunteer services business partnerships coordinator.

She has been honored with the Minnie Howard award formally Athena Award, School District 25 Employee Service Award, Delta Kappa Gamma State Achievement Award, and Golden Gift Class Leadership Training. Elaine is a font of knowledge about the Legislature and always comes prepared and on time. She represents all of her community, not just those members who voted for her on Election Day. Her most treasured jobs are wife, Mom of three and Grandmother of six.