Date in office: 1991-1995
Bob Smith joined Sacramento County as the County Executive in January 1991 and was recognized for his creative and innovative approach
to management and for insuring that quality services continued
despite decreased funding. Smith oversaw a budget topping $1.1B
while continuing to assure the viability of Sacramento County
during times of hardship.
From 1989 to 1991, Smith was appointed to Executive Director of
the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency. Prior to this position, Smith served as
Executive Director of the Sacramento Ad-Hoc Charter Commission, created to explore the
feasibility of merging City and County governments and dissolved when the proposal did not
gain voter approval in 1990.
During the 1980’s, Smith managed the Sacramento Metropolitan Cable Television Commission
from 1982 to 1989. Prior to that, he served as Deputy Executive Director of the Sacramento
Housing and Redevelopment Agency for two years where he was instrumental in reorganizing
the agency, improving its service delivery system and making it more responsive to the needs of
low-income families and senior citizens. Additionally, Smith implemented the first major
scattered-site, low-income public housing program in the unincorporated areas of Sacramento.
Smith served as a Principal Analyst in the County Executive's Office from 1972 to 1980 and
previously worked for the Los Angeles County where he served as a senior sanitarian, head
community improvement analyst with the Department of Urban Affairs and as a public health
entomologist
Smith left Sacramento County in October 1995 and enjoyed spending time with his family, helping his wife Sally with her hobby of raising llamas and restoring a 1928 Ford Flatbed Dually. On September 5, 2020, Smith passed away.