Linda A. Smith (Republican) represented the 18th Legislative District comprising large parts of Clark and Cowlitz counties. First elected to the House of Representatives in a special election in 1983, she served until her resignation on December 4, 1987. She was then elected to the Senate where she served until her resignation January 2, 1995 when she won election to Congress.

During her tenure she managed seven tax preparation offices for eight years, studied tax law and planning for 14 years, and earned her Oregon state tax consultants license in 1982.

She was a member of the Glad Tidings Church and lived with her husband and children in Hazel Dell.