Kandie D. Smith attended Charleston Southern University, where she obtained a Bachelor's degree, majoring in Sociology and minoring in Communications. 

Ballotpedia - Kandie Smith

In addition to her political experience, Kandie D. Smith is a small business owner of a training firm specializing in staff development and crisis management. She has professional experience as a consultant. 

Kandie D. Smith is the current State Senator for North Carolina District 5. She was elected to this position in 2022, and has served one term. She was previously elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives for 2 terms starting in 2018. Smith has also served as the first Black Female Mayor of the City of Greenville and was a Councilwoman for Greenville City Council for nearly a decade. She currently holds the position of Second Vice-Chair in the Bipartisan Joint Women's Caucus.

Candidate website

The candidate's website says, "During her tenure, she successfully lobbied both Raleigh and DC to secure more than 10 million dollars in grants and a zero percent interest loan to fund major infrastructure projects in the city."

The candidate's website says, "Past events show us that having a surplus can be a real benefit in times of crisis, but it is critical that we do not safeguard a massive budget surplus at the expense of the day-to-day job of state government."

Said, "We need to drastically increase the supply of available housing locally and across the state, and we must work to provide greater assistance to those most at risk of losing their homes."

Said, "We must continue to work with local leaders to develop a flexible and dependable economic development policy that attracts new business to the area while retaining and growing existing businesses."

The candidate's website says, "It makes no sense to maintain a rainy day fund at historically high levels while our roads and bridges crumble and our students sit in schools that are outdated and underfunded."

Said, "Housing is one of the basic human needs, and we have too many people in our community who have been forced out of their housing due to little more than greed."

The candidate's website says, "Looking to the future, few things are as important as making sure Eastern North Carolina is on a continued path of job growth and economic development."

The candidate's website says, "Kandie has always fought for fairness and equality for all citizens and has prioritized fiscally responsible budgeting while simultaneously investing in education, infrastructure, public safety, and recreation."

- Said, "We need to drastically increase the supply of available housing locally and across the state, and we must work to provide greater assistance to those most at risk of losing their homes."
- Said, "We must continue to work with local leaders to develop a flexible and dependable economic development policy that attracts new business to the area while retaining and growing existing businesses."
- The candidate's website says, "It makes no sense to maintain a rainy day fund at historically high levels while our roads and bridges crumble and our students sit in schools that are outdated and underfunded."
- Said, "Housing is one of the basic human needs, and we have too many people in our community who have been forced out of their housing due to little more than greed."
- The candidate's website says, "Looking to the future, few things are as important as making sure Eastern North Carolina is on a continued path of job growth and economic development."
- The candidate's website says, "Kandie has always fought for fairness and equality for all citizens and has prioritized fiscally responsible budgeting while simultaneously investing in education, infrastructure, public safety, and recreation."

Economy

Believes North Carolina's leadership in solar energy and continued investment in green infrastructure, alongside holding polluters accountable and reinvesting in affected communities, are key steps to addressing the climate crisis immediately.

Plans to continue North Carolina's leadership in solar energy and investment in green infrastructure, alongside holding polluters accountable and reinvesting in affected communities.

Said, "I have proudly been endorsed by groups like the Sierra Club and the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters because I understand that addressing the climate crisis will take some serious dedication and a lot of tireless work."

Endorsed by the Sierra Club and the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. 

Said, "The very real results of the climate crisis are not hard to see, from the increasingly devastating impacts of hurricanes and flooding, to the levels of PFAS in drinking water throughout the state."

Believes that climate change has negative effects on North Carolina, including causing extreme weather events like hurricanes and floods, and putting harmful chemicals in the drinking water.

- Plans to continue North Carolina's leadership in solar energy and investment in green infrastructure, alongside holding polluters accountable and reinvesting in affected communities.
- Endorsed by the Sierra Club and the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. 
- Believes that climate change has negative effects on North Carolina, including causing extreme weather events like hurricanes and floods, and putting harmful chemicals in the drinking water.

Energy & the Environment

The candidate's website says, "Our area has missed out on the overwhelming and clear benefits that Medicaid Expansion would bring to our community... touching everything from... healthcare..."

The candidate's website says, "Expanding Medicaid is the right thing to do no matter which way you look at it, and the majority of North Carolinians agree - It's time to expand Medicaid now."

The candidate's website says, "Any persons ability to seek and receive an abortion is an intensely personal decision, one that should be made by them, and not a group of politicians in Raleigh."

Said, "We need to do better when it comes to both identifying and treating mental health. Our current system is fragmented, which has caused unnecessary barriers to people accessing the best available treatment."

Said, "I will always fight abortion restrictions and any effort to control women’s bodies."

The candidate's website says, "Medicaid Expansion means... tens of thousands of newly insured individuals, particularly individuals in historically underserved rural areas, who would suddenly be able to receive treatment for their health concerns."

The candidate's website says, "Medicaid Expansion means thousands of new jobs... and tens of thousands of newly insured individuals... in historically underserved rural areas, who would suddenly be able to receive treatment for their health concerns."

Said, "I fully support passing Medicaid Expansion, and doing it as soon as possible."

Said, "I do not believe the government has any right or say in what a woman can do with her own body."

Said, "I do not believe the government has any right or say in what a woman can do with her own body... I will always fight abortion restrictions and any effort to control women’s bodies."

Said, "We need to create a system that is less burdened by payment policies which have created disparities in access to appropriate care... We must also work to eliminate the systemic barriers to preventative treatments and recovery services..."

Said, "We need to do better when it comes to both identifying and treating mental health... We need to create a system that is less burdened by payment policies which have created disparities in access to appropriate care. We must also work to eliminate the systemic barriers to preventative treatments and recovery services..."

The candidate's website says, "Mental Health is one of the most pressing issues facing Americans across all age groups, and unfortunately, one of the most neglected."

- The candidate's website says, "Medicaid Expansion means thousands of new jobs... and tens of thousands of newly insured individuals... in historically underserved rural areas, who would suddenly be able to receive treatment for their health concerns."
- Said, "I fully support passing Medicaid Expansion, and doing it as soon as possible."
- Said, "I do not believe the government has any right or say in what a woman can do with her own body... I will always fight abortion restrictions and any effort to control women’s bodies."
- Said, "We need to do better when it comes to both identifying and treating mental health... We need to create a system that is less burdened by payment policies which have created disparities in access to appropriate care. We must also work to eliminate the systemic barriers to preventative treatments and recovery services..."
- The candidate's website says, "Mental Health is one of the most pressing issues facing Americans across all age groups, and unfortunately, one of the most neglected."

Healthcare

The candidate's website says, "Democracy works best when everyone's voice is heard. Be sure your voice is heard in the upcoming election by checking your voter registration to make sure you are active and up-to-date."

The candidate's website says, "The free IDs will be available ... until the last day of early voting through Election Day."

The candidate's website says, "Voters can get free IDs at their local county board of elections to comply with the state’s new voter ID requirement."

The candidate's website says, "TO BE CLEAR! If you already have a photo id (like a drivers license or passport) you DO NOT need to get a special voter photo ID just to vote."

Said, "Elected officials must commit to working together, and being accountable to the people who elected them first and foremost... too many issues in our state government today are being decided by partisanship rather than out of genuine concern for the people."

- Said, "Elected officials must commit to working together, and being accountable to the people who elected them first and foremost... too many issues in our state government today are being decided by partisanship rather than out of genuine concern for the people."

Voting & Elections

Believes in criminal justice reform, addressing racial and economic disparities, altering sentencing laws, ending mass incarceration, increasing police transparency, and aiding reentry into society post-incarceration.

Believes in reforming the criminal justice system, addressing racial and economic disparities, altering mandatory sentencing laws, ending mass incarceration, increasing police transparency, and aiding reentry into society post-incarceration.

- Believes in reforming the criminal justice system, addressing racial and economic disparities, altering mandatory sentencing laws, ending mass incarceration, increasing police transparency, and aiding reentry into society post-incarceration.

Public Safety

The candidate's website says, "North Carolina’s Constitution says that the State Legislature has an obligation to appropriately fund education in our state... the current leadership of the NC General Assembly is failing to meet this critical obligation..."

Believes North Carolina has the means for top-notch education but current leaders undervalue it; pledges to advocate for students, parents, and teachers to ensure they receive necessary resources.

Promises to advocate for students, parents, and teachers, and increased resources for schools. 

Said, "We must also strengthen our Community College system to adapt to new industry trends to ensure a dependable and prepared workforce to fill the in-demand jobs of the future."

Plans to, "strengthen our Community College system to adapt to new industry trends to ensure a dependable and prepared workforce to fill the in-demand jobs of the future."

Believes education, encompassing teacher salaries, school improvements, and student success, is the state's prime duty, advocating for sufficient resources to enable comprehensive learning and development for all students.

Believes education, including teacher salaries, advocating for sufficient resources, updating facilities, and ensuring student success, is the state's primary responsibility.

- Promises to advocate for students, parents, and teachers, and increased resources for schools. 
- Plans to, "strengthen our Community College system to adapt to new industry trends to ensure a dependable and prepared workforce to fill the in-demand jobs of the future."
- Believes education, including teacher salaries, advocating for sufficient resources, updating facilities, and ensuring student success, is the state's primary responsibility.

Education

As of January 31, 2024, Kandie D. Smith’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

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Kandie D. Smith

- Your State Senator participates in the legislative process at the state level. They are one of 50 members of the North Carolina Senate. The North Carolina Senate is the upper house of the North Carolina General Assembly (the state's lawmaking body).
- Your State Senator drafts laws, approves budgets, has oversight of the state executive branch, and debates and votes on proposed laws.
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your State Senator can serve on committees. This is important because many bills can be stalled in committee, preventing them making it to a vote.
- Your State Senator is responsible for representing your interests. They also are responsible for helping you navigate the state's services and bringing back resources to your district.
- The State Senator is elected to a 2-year term. There is no term limit.