He was first elected in 2000 and biked his way 51 miles to the Iowa Capitol. On Thursday, Smith left Des Moines and took his chair with him, an Iowa Legislature tradition for people who served 20 or more years.

“It’s been an honor and it’s been a challenge,” Smith said.

He’s always been involved with politics, usually behind the scenes.

Politics have come naturally to Smith. When he was young, politics in general were considered “forbidden fruit” and his father abhorred politicians and politics.

Mark Smith, retired Marshalltown Iowa House Representative, displays his bicycle he first rode to the Capitol on after getting elected in 2000.

“He was a Republican, but he did not like politics,” Smith said. “I remember once when I was little, on our farm we had a routine in the evening. We got to watch television until dad announced it was time to go to bed.”

One evening the regular broadcast was interrupted by an announcement from then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

“He threw down his paper and swore and said, ‘Turn that off. You can’t watch anything without the politicians coming on,'” Smith said.

He had to maneuver around his father’s distaste for politics as he was growing up and then when he began attending Graceland College, the Democratic party captivated him.

“I began to realize this was where I fit philosophically,” he said. “Before I ever voted in an election I became a Democrat and have been one ever since.”

Mark Smith, retired Marshalltown Iowa House Representative, shows off some of woodwork that he’ll focus on more after retiring from the Legislature after 20 years.

He attended Graceland with Caitlyn Jenner prior to her Olympic gold medal in the decathlon.

In 1972 he worked with former Iowa Senator Tom Harkin during his run for the U.S. House of Representatives.

“I volunteered on his first campaign,” Smith said.

He continued his involvement and in 2000 he was chair of the Marshall County Democrats which led to his first election.

“We were trying to recruit someone for the Iowa House and everyone kept saying ‘we thought you were going to do that Mark,’ so I decided to run,” he said.

A plaque commemorates Mark Smith, retired Marshalltown Iowa House Representative, For his 20 years in the Legislature.

Smith arrived in Des Moines on a bike he still has to this day.

Like other legislators he spent a lot of his first year learning how the Iowa House of Representatives worked “and being a bit in awe,” Smith said. “For the first time in my life I had a title and responsibility to a whole group of people back in the district.”

In his farewell speech before the Legislature last week Smith said he always felt others had an easier time deciding how to vote than him.

“I had a heavy heart at times knowing that certain things would help some people in my district and hurt others,” he said. “Coming to grips with that in my first term was important.”

Throughout his time in the legislature, Smith would often question whether he should vote his conscience or the wishes of his constituents.

“You know, regardless of your viewpoint, you are not alone in your district,” he said. “Some people agree with you and some people don’t agree with you.”

His work has paid off and he has never lost an election.

During Smith’s tenure he saw the world change drastically in a variety of different ways.

He visited Ground Zero shortly after 9/11 and was one of two members of the Iowa Legislature to go.

“It was live and personal,” Smith said. “Every other day we took survivors and family members across the upper New York bay to the site of the World Trade Center. These were very challenging times and frankly quite scary times.”

Smith was comforted by a line from the poet Robert Frost, “It will not do to say of night, Since dark is what brings out your light.”

He stayed in close contact with his constituents during that time.

Smith has also seen the advent of digital technology and communication.

“When I started I always did lots of paper newsletters each week,” he said.

Now he does more with text and email, but his message remains the same.

Shortly after this year’s Iowa Caucus Smith took over as the Chair of Iowa Democratic Party after a debacle prevented the Caucus results from coming out immediately.

“I felt very strongly that we needed to make sure that the Democratic Party was on track to win elections up and down the ticket this November,” Smith said. “I stepped up to the role.”

In the Legislature, Smith hopes his legacy will be one of health care reform and promoting civil and human rights.

“I take great pride in the efforts we have undertaken to make this society more fair and just,” he said.

Those efforts mesh well with his day job as a licensed social worker. He’s specialized in treating people with mental health and substance abuse disorders.

“After becoming the Democratic leader in the House I scaled back that responsibility,” Smith said.

Ultimately, Smith decided not to seek re-election this year so he can take more time for his family and for recording and writing history.

He also intends to spend more time on his bicycle and in his woodshop.

“I talked to Sue Cahill and knew she was running,” Smith said. “I knew the seat would be in good hands in Marshall County.”

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Contact Thomas Nelson at 641-753-6611 or tnelson@timesrepublican.com

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