{"biography":"Beatrice Riggs Smith is a Democratic candidate for the Craven County Board of Commissioners, District\u202f3, in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election. She previously served on the Board after being appointed in January\u202f2021 to fill the seat left vacant by the late Commissioner Johnnie Sampson, and she ran for the same seat in the 2022 general election.[1][11]\n\nSmith is a lifelong resident of Craven County. She completed a 33\u2011year career with the Craven County School System, beginning as a classroom teacher, then serving five years as director of the Every Student Succeeds Act Title\u202fI Reading Program, and ultimately spending 17 years as a school principal. In 1997 she retired as the principal of Graham A.\u202fBarden Elementary, becoming the first Black female principal in the integrated Craven County schools.[5]\n\nHer public service extends beyond education. Smith was elected to the Craven County Board of Education in November\u202f2002 and served four terms, shaping policy for the county\u2019s schools. In addition to her elected roles, she sits on several community boards, including the East Carolina Workforce Development Board, the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, Smart\u202fStart, the Craven Aging Planning Board, and Partners\u202fIn\u202fEducation.[5]\n\nIn December\u202f2020 the County Board of Commissioners appointed Smith to the commissioner seat for District\u202f3, and she was sworn in on January\u202f4,\u202f2021. She resigned from the Board of Education at that time, prompting the board to begin filling her vacated seat.[11] Smith\u2019s candidacy in 2022 and her continued campaign for 2026 reflect her commitment to representing District\u202f3 and addressing local issues such as economic development, public safety, and education.\n\nSmith is also active in her faith community, serving as a deaconess of St.\u202fPeter\u2019s A.M.E. Zion Church.[5] She can be contacted via the email address listed on her Ballotpedia profile, beasmith@suddenlink.net.[1]\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Beatrice Smith (Craven County Board of Commissioners District 3, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Beatrice_Smith_(Craven_County_Board_of_Commissioners_District_3,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022))\n- [5] [Beatrice Smith | Craven County](https://www.cravencountync.gov/2165/11791/Beatrice-Smith)\n- [11] [Craven BOE member appointed to Board of Commissioners](https://www.witn.com/2020/12/15/craven-boe-member-appointed-to-board-of-commissioners/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_03","county":"craven","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Craven County Board Of Commissioners District 03"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Beatrice","fullname":"Beatrice Riggs Smith","lastname":"Smith","middlename":"Riggs","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_03","contest_title":"Craven County Board Of Commissioners District 03","county":"craven","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"craven","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"craven","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_district_03","contest_title":"Craven County Board Of Commissioners District 03","county":"craven","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"craven","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Beatrice Riggs Smith, a longtime educator and former Board of Education member, is the Democratic candidate for Craven County Commissioner District\u202f3 in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"79eb81577f0fe0db"}