Mary Gardner Belk

Mary Gardner Belk (born October 5, 1956 ) 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 Gardner 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
Washington, D.C.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Ralph Belk, Jr.
ResidenceCharlotte, North Carolina
Alma materUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte
ProfessionProperty Management
WebsiteMaryBelk.com

Family

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

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

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

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]

References
  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. "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".
North Carolina House of Representatives
Preceded by
Rob Bryan		 Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 88th district
2017-Present		 Incumbent
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