Lloyd R. Smith

For 16 years he served in the Iowa State Treasurer's office as Superintendent of the Gas Tax Refund Division.^[1][3]

He served 9 years in the Auditor's office as an auditor before being elected as Iowa State Auditor in 1966. He served from 1967 until his death in 1978.^[1][3] He had won the November 1978 election to serve another term as Auditor, just a month prior to his death.^[2][3]

In 1966, he ran against Republicans Rex McMahill,^[4] C. W. Ward,^[5] and Democrat Lorne R. Worthington. Ward had been fired by Worthington on the same day he announced his ambition to run for the office.^[5] Smith won the election with 442,063 votes against Worthington's 398,577 votes.^[6] He was elected to his first term and inaugurated on January 2, 1967.

In 1968, he ran against Democrat Donald J. Kelly and Prohibition candidate H. J. Buchholz.^[7] Smith won 618,400 votes against Kelly's 458,542 votes and Buchholz's 1,376 votes.^[7]

In 1970, he ran against Democrat Donald Linduski.^[8] Smith won 422,622 votes against Linduski's 323,510 votes.^[8]

In 1972, he ran against Democrat F. Harold Forret.^[9] Smith won votes 668,158 against Forret's 462,582 votes.^[9]

In 1974, he ran against Democrat F. Harold Forret in a rematch of 1972.^[10] Smith won votes 470,751 against Forret's 384,439 votes.^[10]

In 1978, he ran against Democrat John B. Brunow and Socialist Thomas J. Oliver.^[11] Smith won votes 446,604 votes against Brunow's 320,884 votes and Oliver's 2,920 votes.^[11] He died just over 6 weeks after his election win.^[2][3]

He married Elaine S. Solyst and together had 5 children.^[1][3] They were Baptists.^[1][3] He suffered a heart attack on December 21, 1978, at the home of a friend in Fairfield and died at the age of 67.^[2][3]