DEBBIE SMITH

1956 - 2016

DEBBIE SMITH Debbie Smith passed away Feb. 21, 2016, following a courageous battle with brain cancer. Debbie was born Jan. 14, 1956, in Tucson, Ariz. Her family moved to Battle Mountain when she was in the fourth grade, and she quickly grew to love Nevada, with its beauty and traditions. She later moved to Sparks, making it her home town. She loved her family, effective public policy, the outdoors and photographing her beloved state. At only 22, Debbie was elected to a rural school board, and as a parent of three children, she was a lifelong advocate for our public education system. She was president of the Nevada PTA, a member of the National PTA Board and was appointed by Governors Miller (D) and Guinn (R) to chair the Council to Establish Academic Standards. She chaired the Council for eight years, leading the state through the process of developing and passing the state's first academic standards. She believed in our public schools and fought tirelessly for quality education to provide excellent opportunities to all students. Debbie also served on the board of the Girl Scouts of Sierra Nevada, the Washoe County Education Alliance, and advisory boards of the Northern Nevada Children's Cancer Foundation and the Nevada After School Alliance. For many years, Debbie worked for the International Union of Operating Engineers and strongly believed in apprenticeship opportunities and a decent wage for hard work. In 2000, Debbie decided to run for the Nevada Assembly. It did not take her long to climb to its highest ranks: Chair of its most prestigious Ways and Means Committee, Majority Whip, Speaker Pro Tempore. In 2012, she was elected to the Nevada Senate and served as the Assistant Majority Leader, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and Assistant Minority Leader. Debbie was respected by individuals in all parties, regions of the state and ideologies because of her work ethic, perseverance, resolve, intelligence, and the genuine respect she showed to all. Despite her diagnosis and treatment for cancer, she returned to thunderous applause to finish the historic 2015 legislative session, in part so she could play a role in the major increase in school funding and because it was her nature. She never gave up. Debbie's legislative accomplishments are too numerous to list. She was one of the few legislators in the entire legislature who understood how the state's budget worked. She believed in budget transparency and accountability and hated exploitation of tax loopholes. She was a champion of protecting the education and human services budgets. She fought for policies allowing and promoting parental involvement in schools and for adequate funding of education. She was an advocate for wildlife and conservation issues, including the popular Dream Tag program, never forgetting her Battle Mountain roots. In the 2013 legislative session, Debbie championed Brianna's Law, requiring a DNA sample to help track down those suspected of sexual assault crimes. She was the sponsor of the bill creating Nevada's 2-1-1 line, a one-stop resource for residents needing services. Concerned with the sub-standard condition of Washoe County schools, she fought persistently for additional bonding for schools, so that all children can have a safe place to learn. Her determination and effectiveness changed our state forever. She has been recognized for her legislative accomplishments by the Public Education Foundation, the Nevada Association of Schools Boards, the Nevada Justice Association, the Nevada Conservation League, the Clark County School District, the Nevada Women's Lobby, the Nevada Association of Social Workers, the Wild Sheep Foundation, Disability Advocates, Nevada Lung Association, and the DNA Saves organization. In 2014, Senator Smith became the President of the National Conference of State Legislatures, an organization of all state legislatures in the nation. She is a graduate of the Toll Fellows, Flemming Fellows, Emerging Political Leaders and Western Legislative Academy programs. But, to Debbie, all her accomplishments paled in comparison to her greatest joy and legacy: her family. Debbie married Greg, her childhood sweetheart, in 1974. Their first date was in seventh grade. They were soul mates, and the proud parents of Olivia (David Bouch), Ian (Yuko Okudaira) and Erin. Debbie is also survived by her two beloved grandchildren, Emma and Aanika Bouch. Memorial service will be at noon Sunday, Feb. 28, at Sparks High School, 820 15th St., Sparks. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Senator Smith's name to the Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation, with every dollar supporting brain tumor research. Donations can be made to https://drmarnierosefoundation.racepartner.com/debbiesmith