Born and raised in Canyon County, Keri Smith has made community involvement her career. Her experience is versatile and has prepared her to lead the County with ten years as a County employee in Development Services and Information Technologies, two years as the Idaho State Floodplain Coordinator, and three years with the City of Caldwell, Economic Development. She currently serves as Chairwoman of the Board of County Commissioners. 

Smith is the co-founder and former CEO of Destination Caldwell, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to position Caldwell as Idaho’s premier gathering place. Smith served as the first president of the Destination Caldwell Board of Directors until 2016, and has remained an ex-officio member since. During her tenure, Keri has actively recruited businesses to downtown Caldwell to spur economic development, worked collaboratively with the City of Caldwell’s Mayor and City Council, and directed the policy, financial management, and operations of Indian Creek Plaza. Under Keri’s leadership, Destination Caldwell and Indian Creek Plaza have brought millions of dollars of revenue to the City of Caldwell, both through business recruitment and event planning. Boasting Idaho’s only ice skating ribbon, downtown Caldwell now draws crowds in by the thousands.

Smith is dedicated to uniting community members to have robust discussions on what’s best for its citizens. “I am incredibly fortunate to have grown up in Canyon County, and now I have the opportunity to serve the community that I care about and love,” said Smith. “Each day I look for ways to promote our wonderful County, find new and exciting things that our area has to offer, and contribute to the community where my children are being raised. It’s this work that has inspired me to run for public office, and now that I’m Commissioner, I look forward to the opportunity to work together to find dynamic and new solutions Countywide.”