Patricia Spafford Smith was an American businesswoman and Democratic politician from Shell Lake, Wisconsin.
Education
Born Patricia Spafford in Shell Lake on August 17, 1925, Smith attended Superior State Teachers College (now University of Wisconsin–Superior) and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1946. She later attended UW-Eau Claire and UW-Barron County as well.
Career
After graduation, Smith worked as an accountant for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, and later ran a school bus contracting business (she was on the board of directors of the Wisconsin School Business Association). At the time of her first election to public office, she had a record of leadership in organizations including Wisconsin Citizens Concerned for Life, Barron County Sports Center, Barron Company Health Forum, Barron County Adult 4-H Leaders Association, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and the Barron County Democratic Party.
(Previous incumbent Kenneth M Schricker had died in office) She was narrowly re-elected in 1980.
After a recount, she had 12,840 votes to 12,671 for Republican Alan Sykes. In 1982, in what was now numbered the 51st district, she had less trouble, polling 8,870 to 7,735 for Republican Ole Severude.
In 1984, with the district once again numbered the 75th, she was not a candidate, and was succeeded by fellow Democrat Mary Hubler (who had defeated a Patrick T Smith in the Democratic primary). After she left the Assembly, Smith served on the Washburn County, Wisconsin Board of Supervisors, the Shell Lake Common Council and served as Mayor of Shell Lake.