FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: May 6, 2026 

Contact: Grace Merrill, 607-773-8771, press.sd52@gmail.com

Photos for Use by Media 

Video for Use by Media 

Senator Webb Names Linda Smith as her 2026 Woman of Distinction Honoree

(ALBANY,  NY) – Senator Webb proudly recognized Linda Smith as the 2026 Woman of Distinction for New York’s 52nd Senate District during the New York State Senate’s 28th Annual Women of Distinction Ceremony held on Tuesday, May 5, at the State Capitol in Albany.

This annual celebration honors women from across New York State who have made outstanding contributions to their communities and exemplify service, leadership, and impact. In addition to the ceremony, Senator Webb introduced a formal resolution in the Senate chamber, commemorating all of the 2026 Women of Distinction Honorees. Senator Webb led a floor recognition during the session, where Linda Smith was honored before her peers, further highlighting her exceptional impact on the community.

“Linda Smith has spent her life standing up for working people and strengthening her community in lasting ways. She has demonstrated leading with integrity through her work in the labor movement and years of public service,” said Senator Lea Webb. “Linda’s advocacy has helped ensure that workers are treated with fairness and respect, and her commitment to others continues to make a real difference. I am proud to honor her as our 2026 Woman of Distinction.”

“I can’t express enough my heartfelt gratitude to Senator Webb for honoring me as a Woman of Distinction. I was surprised and humbled, given the extraordinarily accomplished honorees that have come before me,” said Linda Smith.  “My work over the years as a labor activist was simply driven by my belief that when workers organize for decent wages, benefits, fairness and safe working conditions in the workplace, it creates a ripple effect that helps build strong, vibrant communities. I will always seek out ways to stand with workers for the betterment of our communities.”

Linda Smith grew up in Upstate New York as the oldest of nine children. Her upbringing in the 1960s and 1970s helped shape her strong sense of community and commitment to working families. From her mother, she developed a love of cooking, sewing, and gardening. Her father, a dedicated union member, instilled in her the importance of having a voice in the workplace and using that voice to advocate for workers.

In 1987, Linda began working at Pall Trinity in Cortland, where production workers were represented by UAW Local 1326. She quickly became active in the union and, during her 13 years there, served in several leadership roles, including union steward, chair of the health and safety committee and women’s committee, union president, and member of the negotiating committee. She was a strong advocate for educating workers about workplace hazards and for improving safety conditions.

In 1995, Linda and leaders from two other UAW locals helped establish the Cortland Workers’ Rights Board. Until it closed in 2004, the organization assisted hundreds of mostly low-wage, nonunion workers with issues such as wrongful termination, wage theft, discrimination, and workers’ compensation claims while also providing free health and safety training.

In 2004, Linda joined Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton’s office and served as Chief of Staff until her retirement in 2017. Since 2019, she has also worked as a substitute teacher at Marathon Central High School. Today, Linda remains active in the Cortland County Democratic Committee, volunteers on political campaigns, and participates in Indivisible Cortland. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, gardening, cooking, and preserving the food she grows.

###