Velda Jones-Potter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Velda Jones-Potter
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|---|---|
| Treasurer of Delaware | |
| In office January 20, 2009 – January 1, 2011 |
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| Governor | Jack Markell |
| Preceded by | Jack Markell |
| Succeeded by | Chip Flowers |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1957/1958 (age 66–67) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Charles Potter Jr. |
| Education | University of Delaware (BS) Indiana University Bloomington (MBA) |
Velda Jones-Potter (born 1957 or 1958) is an American businesswoman and politician. She served as the Treasurer for the state of Delaware. She was chosen by Jack Markell to finish his term as Treasurer when he became governor in 2008. Later, she ran for mayor of Wilmington in 2020 and 2024.
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Velda Jones-Potter's Early Life and Education
Velda Jones-Potter went to P. S. Dupont High School. She made history at the University of Delaware. She was the first African American woman to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the university. After that, she continued her education at Indiana University. There, she earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
Her Career Before Politics
Before entering politics, Jones-Potter worked in the business world. She spent 17 years working for DuPont, a large science and engineering company. Later, she became an executive vice president at MBNA. This experience gave her a strong background in finance and management.
Velda Jones-Potter's Political Journey
When Jack Markell became the Governor of Delaware in 2008, he chose Velda Jones-Potter to take over his old job as Delaware State Treasurer. This was a big moment for the state. She became the first African American person to hold a statewide office in Delaware.
Running for State Treasurer
In 2010, Velda Jones-Potter ran to keep her job as State Treasurer. She was already serving in the role. However, she lost in the Democratic primary election to Chip Flowers. He won with 54 percent of the votes. Chip Flowers then went on to win the main election against Republican Colin Bonini. During her campaign, some questions were raised about her consulting work for the City of Wilmington.
Serving as Wilmington City Treasurer
In 2016, Jones-Potter ran for a different position: Wilmington City Treasurer. She won the Democratic primary election with 40 percent of the votes. She ran against Darius J. Brown and Kenneth Matlusky. In the general election, she ran unopposed, meaning no one ran against her. This made her the first African-American woman to serve as the Wilmington City Treasurer. In 2018, The News Journal reported that she had asked for a raise for herself and her team.
