Rep. Patti Smith believes her strong victory in four campaigns was tied to a consistent message that government needs to be more fiscally responsible and responsive to citizens.

Although Smith will not seek re-election to the office that she had held since 2000, she plans to finish out this year with those same priorities in mind.

“The hallmark of my service in the Legislature has been to provide a voice for my constituents and to be a bridge from them to the government and the agencies that are too often impersonal and laborious in their handling of human problems,” said Smith, a Republican.

The Corbett rancher decided to run for public office after receiving indifferent treatment from a government body during a disputed land-use hearing. She still remembers being told by a Multnomah County Commissioner to “go home and get over it” after a decision had been made.

Smith felt that group of elected officials had ridden roughshod over citizens to pursue their own agenda — and she believed public servants should be more accountable to the people.

To uphold that goal, she has spent hours each day of her political career answering dozens of inquiries from her constituents via e-mail or telephone. She has also made it a priority to be out in the field visiting with citizens as often as possible and learning of community needs.

Smith has served during a time when officials were scrambling to deal with an $800 million budget shortfall and when decisions were being made about how to spend a $2.5 billion surplus.

“I’ve seen the good and the bad,” she said. “And, whether or not I was able to get bills through the system, I think people knew that I was listening and that I was doing my best to represent them.”

In 2003, Smith signed up for the “Walk a Mile” program to learn more about the needs of families living in poverty. She was paired with a single mother from Gresham who suffered from a chronic illness and was struggling to raise a 4-year-old son. That experience reinforced her belief that state officials needed cut down on waste to direct more funding toward the most vulnerable citizens — without overburdening other taxpayers.

“The money that we spend comes from the people and I hold to the philosophy that government needs to do a better job of prioritizing,” said Smith.

She believes her good working relationship with Sen. Rick Metsger, D-Welches, helped accomplish many things for Hood River County and other areas within their respective District 52 and District 26.

For example, both legislators successfully advocated in 2005 for the pear to be named as the official state fruit, providing the agricultural industry with a marketing tool. They also succeeded at gaining $2.5 billion in 2003 to replace/repair aging bridges, the state’s largest-ever infrastructure investment.

Smith and Metsger championed legislation in 2007 that encourages the growth of renewable energy and help alleviate the state’s dependence upon foreign petroleum products. They did find themselves at odds on some major issues; she believed the passage of Measure 37 restored “fairness” to Oregon’s land-use system and he advocated for a less stringent remedy.

Even when in disagreement, Metsger and Smith tried to show that two political parties could find common ground more often than not.

“Patti represents the true citizen legislator; she has demonstrated what true constituency service is really all about,” said Metsger, who is now making a run for Secretary of State.

“Patti has been a hands-on legislator, not someone who simply operates within the marble walls of the capital. Regardless of party affiliation and where we differed on issues, she truly will be missed for her advocacy on behalf of the people in our districts,” he said.

Smith is proud to have been the chief sponsor on a 2006 bill known as “Jessica’s Law,” in memory of a young victim, that now sends a convicted sexual predator of children to prison for a minimum of 25 years. The bill also extends post-prison supervision for predators and requires active tracking of offenders.

“I feel very good about having been able to better protect Oregon’s children,” said Smith.

She ranks passage of the “Mill Bill” in 2003 and her appointment in 2004 to Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s Methamphetamine Task Force as other key accomplishments. She expects hundreds of new jobs to arise from the legislation that streamlined the process for 160 closed sites to be converted for another industrial purpose. That bill helped Cardinal Glass set up shop in Odell on the property that formerly housed the lower Hanel Mill.

The governor’s task force helped eliminate many “mom and pop” drug operations by supporting a bill that made it more difficult for dealers to obtain cold medicines used in meth production.

“This has not been an easy job but it has been gratifying. I thank everyone for all their support and for allowing me to be their representative,” said Smith, who has not yet decided what her next venture will be.

To date, the race for Smith’s District 52 seat in 2009-10 will be between two Democrats, Suzanne VanOrman of Hood River and Sandy attorney Steve Richkind. The filing deadline for any other candidates is March 11.