Keith Smith

It is my pleasure to introduce myself as Keith Smith, a candidate for the Holden Beach Board of Commissioners in the 2025 election. Holden Beach became our family’s home in November 2020, and we feel truly fortunate to be raising our family here.

I grew up near Kure Beach and graduated from John T. Hoggard High School in 1988. In 1991, I moved to Charlotte, where I lived until 2006 before relocating to Radcliff, Kentucky, just outside Fort Knox. My family and I returned to Brunswick County in 2017, living in Winnabow along Highway 17 until November 2020. That year, we moved to Holden Beach and instantly fell in love with this special community.

In my day job, I work as an insurance adjuster and am also a licensed plumber in the State of North Carolina. I typically investigate insurance claims that range from residential water pipe failures costing a few thousand dollars to commercial large-loss fires running into the millions. Occasionally, I am sent across the country to assist homeowners during catastrophic flooding events for the National Flood Insurance Program, for which I hold an NFIP flood license. This work has given me a deep appreciation for responsible decision-making, practical problem-solving, and helping people rebuild after loss, skills I believe translate directly into serving our community here at Holden Beach.

My wife and I lead a small congregation of Christians through a local church called The Studio Church, where we serve as pastors. We hold weekly gatherings focused on declaring the gospel and encouraging others to be led by God's Spirit as they walk through life's challenges. In addition, we operate a faith-based film production and distribution ministry, and we are excited to be launching our first faith-based film later this year, a project that blends creativity, purpose, and hope.

We are a blended family, with my wife having four children, myself having three, and together we have adopted three more. Our family has become actively involved in the Holden Beach community. We volunteer at Tuesday tie dye events, sell 50/50 tickets at the summer concerts, and help at various Parks and Recreation events such as the December Paws Parade, Easter Egg Hunt, and Christmas Tree Lighting. I am also a founding member and have served on the board of the Holden Beach Community Alliance, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) advocacy organization created for the promotion and preservation of the history and heritage of the Holden Beach community.

Our family has also been deeply committed to giving back beyond Holden Beach. We have volunteered and donated to churches across the country and participated in mission work in Puerto Rico, Belize, Honduras, and Peru, helping to serve communities in need and share hope through faith and action. Locally, I have had the opportunity to contribute to my children’s school by installing the plumbing system in their new upper school facility in Shallotte, a project that reminded me how meaningful it is to invest time and skill into the places that shape our families and future generations.

I truly enjoy the windy coastal lifestyle here at Holden Beach. My kids love spending time on the beach playing in the waves, enjoying volleyball games, watching the kites fly, kayaking in the canals, and riding jet skis on the waterway. We love grabbing ice cream along the Causeway, and my favorite spot is Beaches and Cream, while the kids love breakfast on Fridays at each of the local favorites Cafe Ahora, the Minute Man Grille, and Hardees. When it comes to seafood and burgers, I have found some of the best meals right here at Surfer’s Café. These local favorites remind us just how special Holden Beach is, a place where community, family, and simple joys come together.