Democratic Party of Oregon Chair - Meredith Wood Smith
Meredith Wood Smith has served since March 10, 2007 as full time Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon and previously served four years as the full-time DPO Vice Chair. She also serves as Western Vice President of the Association of State Democratic Chairs and is a member of the Executive Committee. In 2009 she was appointed by DNC Chairman Tim Kaine to serve on the Change Commission. The Commission is charged with reviewing and making recommendations on automatic delegates to the national convention, timing of the Presidential primaries and process for presidential caucuses. Governor Kaine also appointed her to the DNC Budget and Finance Committee.
Her political involvement was born in 1961, when she became active in John F. Kennedy's Presidential campaign in Kentucky. Since coming to Oregon 38 years ago she has served as a Party county chairperson, chair of several Party committees, worked full time on a Congressional Campaign and volunteered on many congressional, gubernatorial, legislative, city and county campaigns, first in Jackson and Josephine counties and later in the Portland Metro area. She has also participated in local and statewide referendum and initiative campaigns (both for and against), giving her positive and constructive avenues for community participation. As State Party Chair and Vice Chair, Meredith has worked tirelessly to strengthen county parties through training, mentoring and support. She is also actively engaged in DPO fundraising and in building coalitions with allied groups and minority and business communities. She has served as precinct committee person for over 20 years.
As a small business owner, president of a local business association, and sales representative for a mid-sized national corporation, she developed a keen interest in, and understanding of the needs of the small business community.
Meredith loves Oregon and cannot imagine permanently living anywhere else. Living in both rural and urban environments has provided her the opportunity to gain an understanding of the blessings and challenges of each.
She was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts and at ten moved with her family to Versailles, Kentucky. She attended the University of Kentucky and received a BA in Education. Upon graduation she taught children with disabilities, served as a vocational counselor, taught delinquent and neglected adolescents and later served as an "at risk" youth advocate and community organizer for city, county and state government. She maintains close relationships with her three brothers and a sister in Vermont, Georgia, and Utah.
Meredith has been married for twenty-six years to Joe Smith, former Legislator and Chairperson of the Democratic Party of Oregon, and chief aide to both the Speaker of the Oregon House and a member of Congress. He is semi-retired as a business consultant and attorney, and remains politically active in both the Democratic Party, and the Oregon Bus Project. They enjoy a close relationship with their four sons and their partners and three beautiful grandchildren, three living in Portland and one in England.