New city recorder comes from a long line of public servants
Feb 08, 2021 11:34AM ● By Shaun Delliskave
Brooke Smith administers an oath of office. (Photo courtesy of Brooke Smith)
By Shaun Delliskave | [email protected]
Serving the public has always been in Brooke Smith’s blood. Her aunt was city recorder of Nampa, Idaho, while her cousin served as its first female prosecuting attorney. Her parents and grandparents served on multiple community boards. And now Brooke Smith is filling the role of Murray City Recorder.
“I remember attending several formal city functions and watching my parents and grandparents interact with city and state officials, and it was at those events I fell in love with local government,” Smith said. “I learned then that local government is where the rubber meets the road and knew that serving at the municipal level is where I belonged.”
After high school, she attended Brigham Young University and graduated with an Art History and Curatorial Studies degree.
“I picked art history because I love looking at the details of complex images and seeing how these small details interconnect to make a big image come alive and history being recorded. Much like art, in serving as the city recorder, I play a small part of a much bigger and more complex picture and know that my service in this role can and will make history,” Smith said.
In November 2020, she completed her Master’s of Interdisciplinary Studies degree, emphasizing in Public Administration and General Studies/Leadership through Southern Utah University.
After BYU, she worked for an attorney in St. George, Utah. In 2015, she moved and began working for South Jordan City as an executive assistant and business licensing agent in the economic and community development office. After a short stint with Utah Transit Authority (UTA) as a records officer, she had a chance to jump back into local government and work for Murray City in 2018 as a purchasing agent and deputy city recorder. In December 2020, she was recognized as Murray City’s Employee of the Month by the city council.
“I can say with confidence that Murray City has amazing elected officials and administrative staff. People just don’t work for Murray City; they stay at Murray City. The years of combined experience that the people in leadership have working for Murray City is mind-blowing, and I hope that one day my years of service will be considered a staple for the community and my voice and contributions will be a respected part of the community’s history,” Smith said.
As city recorder she will be Murray’s chief record keeper. Recorders are not just the gatekeepers of the community’s records, often times they are the first point of contact for the city. Some of the most well-known functions of a recorder are to take the city council minutes, make sure city contracts and agreements are executed correctly, swear in city officials, and supervise the election.
Much like her parents’ and grandparents’ examples in serving the community, she currently volunteers with four different organizations: Utah Women and Leadership Program, research associate; Utah Women Leading Government, acting president (website); Utah Chapter of the Institute of Public Procurement (NIGP), vice president; and The Institute of Public Procurement, Pipeline and Placement Committee, vice chair. With NIGP, she was awarded the President’s Award for service this past December.
“My advice to young women interested in a career in local government is to stay in school, start volunteering with community organizations, and live life fearlessly. Local government needs more strong, capable young women to have a seat at the table and a voice in the boardroom. I encourage parents to take their young kids to city hall and introduce them to city officials and to set an example by volunteering to serve on boards, attending community-sponsored functions, or running for local office,” Smith said.
When she isn’t at the city recorder’s office, she most likely can be found with her husband in their 2001 TJ Jeep Wrangler. They are members of the Lone Peak 4x4 Jeep club. Still, Smith keeps her life in perspective.
“My family taught me to love the community that I live and work in, and the best way to do that is to be an active participant in community-sponsored events, volunteer with community organizations, and stay engaged with current events. I am thankful that my role as city recorder lets me do all three successfully,” Smith said.
