Stephen Smith

   I have been a Wisconsin resident most of my life.  Family is important to me. My father started the school bus business in Rice Lake and continued to build it until his death the year I graduated from high school.  He left my mother a widow with six children.   From that time on I was deeply involved in our family’s school bus business.  While attending college I worked in the business and helped my mom raise my siblings.  Contributing to my community, I became a coach, a mentor, and a member of the St Josephs School Board.  I also became a husband to my wife of forty years, Christine.  We now have three adult children and one grandson. We bought the business and operated it until 2006.  After a brief retirement we made the difficult choice to invest our retirement savings to purchase the Rainbow Home Center, saving a long time Rice Lake business and the jobs of 50 people.  I do understand the struggles of Main Street businesses.

                I graduated from  UW Superior with an accounting degree.  I am truly concerned about education costs from Pre-K to graduate programs.  Will our children and grandchildren be able to afford an education beyond high school?  I spent four decades working closely with local school districts and I have an understanding of budget issues they face.   School equality and fairness in school funding is an issue I hope to address.
  
               Political issues have been a lifelong interest of mine, from the JFK election to the current pending elections. I have served on the County Board, Airport Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Wisconsin School Bus Assn. including being President, and working with the DOT and legislature on statewide safety issues.  Over the years I have been deeply committed to giving back to my community in many ways and continue to support civic and youth groups, schools and our church.   I am running TO WIN!  I believe Wisconsin deserves better government.
 
Education
   Bachelor of Science,  Accounting, University of Wisconsin – Superior,  1973  
   Associate Degree,  UW Center – Barron County,  1971

Family           
   Married the former Christine Nielsen, May 26, 1972                   
   Three adult children 
    One Grandson
    
Work Experience 
   2009 – current   Rainbow Home Center, Inc.  (Rice Lake, WI)              
                                          Majority Owner (mostly retired)
   2007 - 2009       Rainbow Home Center (Rice Lake, WI)
                                          Part-time retail sales       
   1982 – 2006      S & J Smith Corp.  (Rice Lake, WI)
                                          Owner, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer   
   1978 – 1982      J W Smith & Sons, Inc.  (Rice Lake, WI)
                                          Chief Financial Officer
   1973 – 1978   Investors Diversified Services, Inc.  (Minneapolis, MN)
                                          (1975 –1978)   Senior Staff Tax Account
                                          (1974 – 1975)    Senior Account / STACS Monitor
                                          (1973 – 1974)  Trainee to Semi Senior Account – Funds Division

Civic Endeavors 

   Member of Shell Lake Zoning Board of Appeals (2008 – current)
   Founding board member for the Boys & Girls Club of Rice Lake (2001 – 2007)
   Interim board President for the Boys & Girls Club of Rice Lake (2005) 
   Member of Rice Lake Airport Commission (2001 – 2006)
   Member of Rice Lake Zoning Board of Appeals (2002 – 2006)
   Member of Board of Directors, Wisconsin School Bus Association (1982 – 2006)
   President, Wisconsin School Bus Association (1990 – 1992)
   Religious education instructor for St. Joseph’s Parish of Rice Lake (1992 –2006)
   Elks Lodge 1441 – Distinguished Citizenship Award (2006)
   Distinguished Graduate Award – St. Joseph’s School (2004)
   Member of the Barron County Board of Supervisors (1986 – 1988)
   Member of the Rice Lake Jaycees (1978 - 1987)