Smith gets straight to business

Above: Papillion Sen. Jim Smith at his family business, Norm’s Door Service, planning a project with the field manager.

Even though he recently retired from Omaha Public Power District (OPPD), Papillion Sen. Jim Smith has not had much time to enjoy retirement. In fact, he said operating his small business is what he considers to be his hobby — although he said he does like to golf once in awhile.

And he has carried that work ethic with him to the Legislature.

“I have much less time on my hands now,” Smith said. “Before [being elected to the Legislature], I was involved in a lot of community organizations and boards. But now, having retired from OPPD, this is my other full-time job.”

But how does he consider this job to be different?

“Unlike the others, I take it home more frequently,” he said. “You are not off the clock, even on recess days and weekends, because you are meeting with constituents.”

But Smith says, the time and commitment are worth it.

“As small business owners, my wife and I have seen first hand some of the struggles small businesses have in competing in this economy and creating and retaining jobs,” he said.

It was for that reason that Smith decided to run for the Legislature. He wanted to bring diverse ideas, from a small business owner’s perspective, to the lawmaking process with the hopes of creating a better economy for the state. But he has discovered his motivating factor to create laws would be just one of many.

“I think, probably as any senator would say, there are moments that are frustrating. Things do not always go the way you would expect them to with 48 other perspectives,” Smith said.

There are bills that appear like they would be easy to move forward, he said, but end up being opposed. But, in the end, he said, the frustration that comes along with the position is usually offset by the rewards.

“It is just nice being able to watch, listen and learn from folks who have been in public service for long time,” he said.