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Elections Simplified

Beatrice (Bea) Smith

Democratic · NC

Beatrice (Bea) Smith is a Democratic candidate for CRAVEN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT 03 in the November 2026 general election.

Where Beatrice (Bea) Smith stands, based on their records

Supports

Public Infrastructure (1 record)

Opposes

Government Spending Reduction (7 records)

Campaign finance information not available

Track record

Track record — Government Spending Reduction

Government Spending Reduction · 7 oppose

  • Moved to approve $437,690 to complete structural, accessibility, HVAC, lighting, technology, and other restoration work at the Craven County Senior Center; the motion passed 7-0.

    August 4, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction

    Source: cravencountync.gov · researched July 18, 2026

  • Moved to approve a $388,292 budget amendment paying accumulated compensatory-time balances caused by vacancies, heavy workloads, and Hurricane Helene response work; the motion passed 7-0.

    November 18, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction

    Source: cravencountync.gov · researched July 18, 2026

  • Moved to adopt Craven County's fiscal-year 2024-2025 budget ordinance and fee schedule, which kept the property-tax rate at 44.48 cents without an increase; the motion passed 7-0.

    June 17, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction

    Source: cravencountync.gov · researched July 18, 2026

  • Moved to reallocate the Public School Building Repair and Renovation Fund and approve a $127,000 budget amendment for projects including painting, safety upgrades, HVAC controls, cabling, grease traps, and accessibility work; the motion passed 6-0.

    February 5, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction

    Source: cravencountync.gov · researched July 18, 2026

  • Cast the lone vote against rejecting the school board's offer to sell the former F.R. Danyus Elementary School to the county, calling for further study and preservation of the historically significant Black school site.

    November 20, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction

    Source: newbernnow.com · researched July 18, 2026

  • Moved to approve a $149,177 Health Department budget amendment supporting performance measures, staffing, equipment, and health-center operations; the motion passed 7-0. She also questioned how the county's in-house pharmacy was improving service.

    October 16, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction

    Source: cravencountync.gov · researched July 18, 2026

  • Moved to approve a $131,500 budget amendment for engineering, subdivision, and road-design work on remaining county-owned land in the Craven County Industrial Park; the motion passed 6-0.

    September 5, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction

    Source: cravencountync.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Track record — Public Infrastructure

Public Infrastructure · 1 support

  • Moved to reallocate the Public School Building Repair and Renovation Fund and approve a $127,000 budget amendment for projects including painting, safety upgrades, HVAC controls, cabling, grease traps, and accessibility work; the motion passed 6-0.

    February 5, 2024Supports Public Infrastructure

    Source: cravencountync.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Track record — General

General · 6 records

  • Received the 20th Century Kathleen Stallings Orringer Pioneers in Democracy Award in recognition of her education and public-service career.

    April 21, 2023

    Source: ncdp.org · researched July 18, 2026

  • Voted against the county commission's 5-2 resolution supporting North Carolina House Bill 324 and opposing the teaching of so-called divisive theories; the official minutes record her objection that the resolution was outside the commission's purview and did not serve the county's best interests.

    August 2, 2021

    Source: cravencountync.gov · researched July 18, 2026

  • Voted against a 5-2 request for state legislation changing Craven County school-board elections from nonpartisan, countywide elections to partisan, district-only elections, arguing that schools should remain nonpartisan.

    April 5, 2021

    Source: newbernnow.com · researched July 18, 2026

  • Selected by the Craven County Board of Commissioners to fill the vacant District 3 seat, becoming the first Black woman to serve as a Craven County commissioner.

    December 14, 2020

    Source: cravencountync.gov · researched July 18, 2026

  • Began service on the Craven County Board of Education in 2002 and completed four terms before resigning to join the county commission.

    January 1, 2002

    Source: cravencountync.gov · researched July 18, 2026

  • Completed a 33-year career with Craven County Schools that included 11 years as a teacher, five years directing the district's Title I reading program, and 17 years as a principal; county records identify her as the first Black woman to serve as a principal in the integrated school system.

    January 1, 1997

    Source: cravencountync.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Race Beatrice (Bea) Smith is in:

Profile last researched July 16, 2026.