Greenville, North Carolina City Council Race Heats Up with Newcomer, Kandie Smith

Signs across Greenville read, "With Kandie, we can do more" and invite people to see what Kandie can do for the district one seat for the City Council. Kandie Smith hails from Spartanburg, South Carolina. She earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology from Charleston Southern University. After an eight year stint as a trainer in Milwaukee, WI, Smith relocated to Greenville, North Carolina where she works with ReStart Behavioral Health Company as the Director of Residential Services.

The eldest of four, Smith's mother, Diana E. Thomas is not surprised that her daughter is seeking public office. According to Thomas, "Kandie loves to help people and it is good that she is running." This energetic woman is the daughter of a man who "wouldn't let her do anything crazy, who was on top of things." Smith was very close to her father, who she lost two years ago.

Energetic is an understatement when describing Kandie. While working full-time at ReStart, she is also the Head Coach for East Carolina University Women's Club Basketball Team and the South Central High School Girls Junior Varsity Basketball Team. Kandie loves sports and started coaching because it was a chance to positively impact the youth. According to Coach Kandie, "You can only play for so long and this allows me to continue being involved. My coaches taught me life lessons and pushed me beyond what I thought I could do and I wanted to motivate people too."

She is the Social Action Committee Chair in the Greenville, NC Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated where she also served on the Political Involvement Committee. Smith said, "I've always been interested in the laws that affect people in general. I've attended every Delta Days at the nations capitol, I learned a lot about lobbying, the process, and the democratic process. It encouraged me to go back and make a difference in the community. It motivated me to get involved locally. There is a lot going on in the city I live in and I'm committed to accomplishing as much as possible in my area and making sure that everyone has a voice."

She considers crime is a high priority. According to Smith, providing adequate recreational activity and facilities for the youth could help crime. Kandie was victimized in her neighborhood but refused to be a victim and instead became an activist after 24 cars were broken into one night on her street followed by an attempted home invasion of her house. In both incidents, the perpetrator was never found.

What makes her different? Kandie answered this question by stating that she "Walks in the shoes of our citizens. On the campaign trail, I've taken the bus, I've met people where they are, I'm willing to learn from them, I've knocked on door after door to meet people and not just let them know who Kandie is but to also learn their priorities, Bright and Safe committee, I've reached out into cyberspace to communicate with people on the Internet. Being accessible and hearing everyone is important."

Kandie's not-so-guilty pleasures: She is a thespian who acted in local productions at the Magnolia Arts Center who LOVES to eat. We should all be so lucky to keep our figures trim with that guilty pleasure.

www.kandieforcouncil.com
http://www.socialurl.com/kandiesmith