Laurie Smith, District 2 (R-New Lenox)

Laurie Smith of New Lenox, was elected to the Will County board in 2008 to represent the people of district two. Smith Chairs the Technology Committee and serves on the Executive Committee, the Capital Improvements Committee and the Legislative & Policy Committee. As a County Board member, Smith also holds a seat on the Will County Forest Preserve Board where she sits on the Finance Committee.

Since her election to the Board, Smith has advocated for fiscal responsibility and worked with her fellow members to ensure that the budget is balanced while at the same time, taxpayers still receive their vital services.

 “These issues are important to me and my constituents,” says Laurie Smith. “Since I’ve come to the County Board, we’ve fallen on hard economic times. Everyone has an idea of the kind of community that they want to live in. I believe it is the duty of the County Board to continue to provide a wonderful, growing community while living within our means.”

Smith and her counter parts in district two have worked to guarantee that proper infrastructure and road maintenance occur. She welcomes input from her constituents and stresses that she wants to give a voice to the concerns of the people she represents.

Smith has worked in various government positions at the County and State levels for the past 27 years. Most recently she worked as the Executive Administrator for the Will County Executive and prior to that as the Communication Specialist for the Will County Sheriff. Laurie was previously a Trustee for the Village of New Lenox for six years and a Planning and Zoning Board member for two years.

Civic community plays an important role in Laurie’s life and over the years she has been and continues to be involved in various organizations. She is a former Ambassador for Big Brothers and Big Sisters as well as the former President of Zonta where her focus was on helping battered women and working closely with the South Suburban Crisis Center. Her interest in the business community is reflected in her membership to the Chambers of New Lenox, Mokena and Frankfort as well belonging to the Working Women of the Joliet Chamber and the Lincolnway area Business and Professional Women. Laurie has also been a member of the New Lenox Senior Housing Foundation and was a Chairman of the FISH Food Pantry.

Laurie’s passion lies in animal welfare and she is a strong advocate for establishing no kill shelters. Laurie has three daughters; Kim, Kristi, and Karen. She also has five granddaughters and two grandsons.