Mary Gardner Belk

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Mary Gardner Belk (born October 5, 1956 [citation needed]) is a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's eighty-eighth House district, which includes portions of Southeast Mecklenburg County. 2017 was her first year in North Carolina House.[1] In the 2017–2018 session, Belk served on the Transportation, Banking, and Justice and Public Safety Appropriations Committees.[2]

Mary Belk
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 88th district
Assumed office
January 1, 2017
Preceded byRob Bryan
Personal details
Born
Mary Denise Gardner

(1956-10-05) October 5, 1956 (age 68)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseRalph Belk Jr.
ResidenceCharlotte, North Carolina
EducationUniversity of North Carolina, Charlotte (BA)
ProfessionProperty Management
WebsiteCampaign website

Personal life

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Family

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Representative Belk lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. She and her husband, Ralph Belk Jr., have four adult children.[3] Her oldest son, Ralph Belk III, serves as her legislative assistant.[4]

Education

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Belk graduated from Garinger High School in 1974[5] and studied police science before dedicating time to raising her children. She later returned to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and earned her BA in political science, graduating with honors in 2006.[3]

Public service

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Before seeking elective office, Belk served on a number of community Boards, including the Dilworth Community Development Association, the Charlotte Catholic Foundation, the St. Patrick's Church Council,[6] and the Democratic Women of Mecklenburg County.

Cancer diagnosis

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In September 2016, during her first campaign, Belk was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery to immediately begin treatment.[7] A positive prognosis allowed her to postpone chemotherapy until two days after the 2016 election, and she underwent radiation treatments during her first months serving in the General Assembly.[8] Her office announced that she completed her final radiation treatment on May 18, 2017.[9]

North Carolina House of Representatives

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Committee assignments

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[10]

2021-2022 Session

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  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations - Transportation
  • Judiciary IV
  • Regulatory Reform
  • Transportation

2019-2020 session

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  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations - Health and Human Services
  • Judiciary IV
  • Regulatory Reform
  • Transportation

2017-2018 session

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  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations - Justice and Public Safety
  • Judiciary IV
  • Transportation
  • Banking
  • State and Local Government I

Electoral history

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2020

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North Carolina House of Representatives 88th district general election, 2020[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Belk (incumbent) 31,647 63.11%
Republican David Tondreau 18,497 36.89%
Total votes 50,144 100%
Democratic hold

2018

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North Carolina House of Representatives 88th district general election, 2018[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Belk (incumbent) 22,561 75.63%
Republican Ty Turner 7,268 24.37%
Total votes 29,829 100%
Democratic hold

2016

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North Carolina House of Representatives 88th district general election, 2016[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Belk 21,754 50.54%
Republican Rob Bryan (incumbent) 21,286 49.46%
Total votes 43,040 100%
Democratic gain from Republican

References

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  1. ^ "Rep. Mary Belk (D-North Carolina) biography". ncchamber.capwiz.com.
  2. ^ webmasters, NC General Assembly. "North Carolina General Assembly - Representative Mary Belk (Dem) Committee Assignments (2017–2018 Session)". www.ncleg.net.
  3. ^ a b "Meet Mary". MaryBelk.com. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  4. ^ "Meet the NC state employees who make lawmaking a family business".
  5. ^ "Mary Belk Fact Sheet" (PDF). cfcrights.org. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  6. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart.
  7. ^ "Candidate says cancer won't stop campaign".
  8. ^ "Mary Belk Wants Her Health History to Shape Her Legislative Advocacy - North Carolina Health News". 5 May 2017.
  9. ^ Belk, Rep Mary. "Yesterday was @MaryBelkNC's last radiation treatment! Thank you for all the kind words & prayers you sent her way.pic.twitter.com/lfKlt5BC1d".
  10. ^ "Mary Belk". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  11. ^ [1] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  12. ^ [2] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  13. ^ [3] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
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North Carolina House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 88th district

2017-Present
Incumbent