Cheryl Smith’s transition from classroom teacher to political candidate offers a refreshing perspective in today’s divisive political landscape. After 38 years educating elementary students in Chesapeake Public Schools, Smith is now running for Virginia State Delegate in the 98th District, covering a significant portion of Virginia Beach from Oceana to the oceanfront, and from the Chesapeake border down to North Carolina.
Smith’s background as a military child shapes her worldview significantly. Growing up during the Vietnam War with a Navy father often deployed for nine months at a time, she was raised by what she describes as “a community of women” who supported each other during difficult times. This early experience of community solidarity forms the foundation of her political philosophy today. Unlike many candidates who emerge from political backgrounds, Smith’s motivation stems from grassroots community involvement and a desire to restore the sense of interconnectedness she experienced growing up.
The catalyst for Smith’s candidacy came from a Democratic meeting in February where she learned about three critical amendments needing protection: reproductive rights, marriage equality, and restoration of voting rights. Upon discovering no Democratic candidate was running against incumbent Barry Knight (whom she describes as a “humble farmer” who “got himself a nice little helicopter and doesn’t farm anymore” after being elected), Smith felt compelled to step up, encouraged by her family.
Smith’s platform prioritizes six key issues, beginning with veteran support. Coming from a military family herself—with her father, brother (a Navy SEAL), and niece (in Navy intelligence) all serving—Smith has witnessed firsthand the challenges veterans face, from PTSD to exposure to harmful chemicals and inadequate healthcare coverage. She has already worked with organizations like Old Dominion Honor Flight, helping veterans visit war memorials in DC.
Education naturally features prominently in Smith’s platform. Through her nearly four decades in the classroom, she’s seen how family circumstances directly impact educational outcomes. She advocates for comprehensive approaches that address not just schooling but family stability, living wages, and basic needs. Smith shares poignant stories of students affected by food insecurity, domestic violence, and parents working multiple jobs, emphasizing that education reform must include family support.
On housing affordability, Smith highlights the struggles even college-educated professionals face in securing apartments, noting she still co-signs leases for her adult children despite their education and employment. She aims to explore successful housing models from other states that combine affordable housing with financial education, job assistance, and pathway programs to homeownership.
When addressing criticism of social safety net programs, Smith emphasizes the importance of understanding individual circumstances before making judgments. She advocates for living wages that would reduce the need for assistance programs while ensuring essential workers like grocery store employees can support themselves. Her message is simple but powerful: walk in someone else’s shoes before dismissing their needs.
Smith’s campaign has already broadened her understanding of community needs. A recent meeting with firefighters revealed shocking gaps in their healthcare coverage, including limited cancer screenings despite regular exposure to carcinogens and inadequate mental health support despite high suicide rates. This discovery reinforced her conviction that protecting worker rights must be a priority.
On reproductive freedom, Smith argues for a woman’s right to choose when or whether to start a family, especially given economic pressures many face. She emphasizes that reproductive rights encompass overall women’s health, citing increased maternal mortality in states with restricted abortion access as doctors hesitate to treat miscarriages. Smith also defends organizations like Planned Parenthood, noting they provide essential preventive care beyond abortion services.
Smith’s environmental platform acknowledges Virginia Beach’s particular vulnerability to rising sea levels and warming waters. She advocates for sensible development restrictions in flood-prone areas, improved public transportation, and appropriate regulations on corporate pollution. Drawing inspiration from public transportation systems she observed in Portugal, she envisions more sustainable community design.
On marriage equality, Smith’s position is unequivocal: “The government has no business telling us who we can and cannot marry.” She expresses frustration that such rights remain contested in 2023, arguing that religious objections should not dictate civil rights.
For those interested in supporting Smith’s campaign, donations can be made through her website, CherylSmithForVirginia.com. As she eloquently puts it
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