Sun sets on a long council career

The urban sprawl that would define the Rockingham of the 1990s was just beginning to spread east to Waikiki and south along Read Street, when Richard Smith was named the first mayor of the city in 1988.

At the time, there was concern among the city's residents about the integration of HMAS Stirling naval personnel into the community, Richard said, after the formal commissioning of the base at Garden Island in 1978.

Now, more than 25 years later, Richard is preparing to step back from council and make the most of his retirement alongside wife Jan.

Richard said he and first City of Rockingham chief executive Gary Holland had recently returned from a round-the-world trip, tasked with investigating functioning naval communities in the US and the UK predominantly, when the Shire of Rockingham was declared a City - and Richard was declared Mayor.

"I'd had a long career in Apex before a vacancy became available on the Shire council in 1985," Richard said.

"I took to the Shire council like a duck to water.

"Later, when I became mayor, I managed it with no experience whatsoever but I was headstrong and believe I handled the transition from shire to city well.

"Jan stepped up to the role of the mayor's wife too."

In the years since becoming the City's inaugural mayor, Richard said he had continued to take an interest in City planning, chairing the Planning and Engineering Services committee throughout his two separate stints on council.

He said he also served as deputy mayor twice and, at one time, represented the ward of Baldivis on 24 council and non-council committees - from the Bushfire Advisory and Local Emergency Management committees, to the Junior Council.

He was also selected by Minister for Local Government Tony Simpson to sit on the amalgamation board in 2014.

"In terms of planning, I worked to manage the land boom in Baldivis - we were required to balance environmental concerns with people's expectations for the suburb," Richard said.

"Transport, the coming of the freeway and the lack of schools were all issues back then."

Richard said a moment of particular pride came about in 2013 when his son Justin Smith was elected to represent Comet Bay ward. He said his five children had grown up with their dad reading council documents and answering phone calls from residents and he and Jan were proud of their son's desire to take an active role in the community.

"Justin and I fell into an easy understanding when Justin was elected - people assumed he would do what his dad said but we never discussed council business at home," Richard said.

"I've been impressed with how he is doing so far - he is turning out to be a well-respected councillor.

"I will miss it very much when I retire - but in a way I can live it through Justin and his experiences."

For Richard and Jan though, the road beckons and the pair plan to commit more time to caravanning, as well as working to maintain their family home in Baldivis, where Jan has spent most of her life.

For more on 2015 City of Rockingham council election, see pages 6 and 20.