LEWISTON – State Rep. Nancy Smith, D-Monmouth, who recently announced her withdrawal from a state senate race, said it’s been her intent to retire from the Maine Legislature since she accepted her new job as executive director of an economic development group.

Smith, who accepted her position at GrowSmart Maine in April, said she told the group’s hiring board it was an “either-or.”

“One of the discussions that I had with the GrowSmart board was the fact that it was going to have to be either or, running for the Senate or working with GrowSmart Maine,” she said of her withdrawal. “I know that some people were surprised by it.”

The announcement of her withdrawal was delayed by a prolonged recovery from foot surgery in April, Smith said.

“It was just too good an opportunity because with GrowSmart I really can focus on the big issues of balancing economic development with maintaining the other parts of Maine we all value so much,” she said. “I have found the perfect job; it’s taken everything in my background and this is a position where I really feel I can make the most difference for the people of Maine. The key point is being able to focus on that one mission of combining economic development with conserving the working and the natural landscape and community revitalization.”

Smith, who served eight years in the Maine House of Representatives, most recently served as the House chair of the Business, Research and Economic Development Committee. She said committee work on a uniform building and energy code and improving research and development investments in Maine were some of the legislation she was most proud of.

But she also said constituent-inspired bills were also very important.

“In my first term, it was (legislation) dealing with sexual predators and young teens, that came from a constituent; and making it a crime to leave the the scene of a crime when a snowmobile is involved, that came from a constituent. So it really was work with my constituents that had some of the most long-lasting benefits for the state of Maine,” Smith said.

And though voters soundly rejected the measure, she holds up her vote in favor of tax reform as public policy she’s proud of.

“Tax reform is still one of the best policies things that we’ve ever done and I’m very disappointed that the voters rejected it,” she said.

Smith said she understands there is plenty of interest in the Kennebec County Democratic Caucus in terms of replacing her as the Democratic nominee and looks forward to supporting whoever it is.

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