Meet Jeanne

BACKGROUND

Jeanne Milliken Bonds, a native North Carolinian, has been married to Robert A. Bonds III since 1991. They made Knightdale their home in 1993. Bob and Jeanne are members of White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh where they have participated in the Ushers Guild and Colony Care as well as service as Sunday School teachers; Jeanne served on the Wedding Guild. Jeanne and Bob are from close families and have been very involved in the lives of their nieces. The family enjoys travel, meeting new people, experiencing new places, and activities with a number of community, civic and charitable causes. Jeanne has had a passion to serve the public her entire life and has done so in her professional endeavors, charitable endeavors and as an elected leader.

In 1994, Jeanne was appointed to the Knightdale Town Council from among a field of seven. She was then elected by the residents twice, serving as Mayor Pro Tem for seven years. She also served as the first female Mayor in Knightdale. During her tenure on the Council, she served in numerous capacities including liaison to the Chamber of Commerce. She created an Economic Development Committee for the Town of Knightdale, was an advocate for alternative transportation for the community (Eastrans Commuter Rail) and was a champion for the Town’s Public Safety Department.

She was elected by her peers in local government to the Board of Directors of the NC League of Municipalities. Jeanne served the NC League of Municipalities as a member of the Finance Committee, as a Vice Chairman of a Policy Committee and on the Nominating Committee. Jeanne has been a leader in numerous other civic and community organizations.

Jeanne was selected, in a competitive national process, as a Henry Toll Fellow representing North Carolina as an emerging state leader. She was nominated by E.H. “Alec” Alexander, Mayor Pro Tem of Red Springs and President of the NC League of Municipalities; Elaine Marshall, NC Secretary of State; and North Carolina Chief Justice Burley Mitchell, Jr. At the time of her nomination and selection, she was Mayor Pro Tem of Knightdale and Deputy Director of the NC Administrative Office of the Courts.

A native of Wilmington, Jeanne received a BA in Economics and a Master of Public Administration (concentration in Public Policy) from the University of NC at Chapel Hill. She has had a successful career in government relations, economic development, community relations and public relations since 1985, including work with federal, state and local lawmakers and more than twelve years of experience working in executive positions statewide in North Carolina including Deputy Director of the NC Administrative Office of the Courts where she was also a Special Assistant to the Chief Justice, and the NC Rural Economic Development Center.

JEANNE IS

  • A fresh, but experienced local leader who achieves results
  • A former elected official in Knightdale – Council member, Mayor Pro Tem, Mayor
  • An innovator focused on JOB creation and training opportunities for ALL
  • A former State employee who will stand up for teachers and all State employees
  • An advocate for resources for public education to create a flexible workforce for the future
  • Motivated to create a climate where new and existing businesses thrive in North Carolina
  • Fiscally responsible, able to budget for priorities

SOLUTION-ORIENTED PUBLIC SERVANT

Jeanne believes in public service and has engaged in it as a profession and as a local elected official and community leader for many years. Jeanne will work hard to earn your vote and she will fight for you in the General Assembly. She understands your priorities – job creation, education, State Employees and Teachers, training opportunities for everyone, fiscal responsibility. Jeanne is endorsed by public servants who understand what this role requires – Former NC Supreme Court Chief Justice Burley Mitchell, Former Knightdale Mayor Doug Boyd, Knightdale Mayor Pro Tem Mike Chalk, Former Wendell Mayor Tim Hinnant, Pastor Lenwood Long, Restoration Community Development Corporation, John Campbell, Executive Director, Human Relations Commission and many community leaders, business owners, public employees and teachers.

Community Involvement (Past and Present)

White Memorial Presbyterian Church (Ushers Guild, Wedding Guild, Sunday School teacher, Colony Care)

NC Community Empowerment Network (faith-based, community network across NC)

Mayor, Mayor Pro Tempore, Council Member, Knightdale, NC

Member, Advisory Council, East Carolina University Master of Public Administration Program

State Employees Association of NC

Board of Directors, Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce

North Carolina League of Municipalities Board of Directors, Vice Chair, Policy Committee; Nominating Committee; Finance Committee

Liaison from Town Council to the Knightdale Chamber of Commerce

Created Knightdale Economic Development Committee

Wake County Growth Management Commission

Triangle J Council of Governments Board of Directors

Capital Campaign Committee, Poe Health Education Center

Fundraising Gala, Child Advocacy Institute

Junior League of Raleigh, Board of Directors

Board of Directors, United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County

Kappa Alpha Theta (Facility Corporation Board, President, Secretary)

NC Information Highway Local Government Committee (technology)

Founding Board of Directors Member, NC Partnership for the Sounds

NC Recyclables Market Development Council

Board of Directors, State Employees Combined Campaign

Co-producer, NC’s first Rural Tele-Forum, a live video teleconference that brought together nearly 850 people at five sites for a first-hand lesson in telecommunications.