Chip majored in economics with dual minors in international relations and psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, then earned both a law degree and a Master’s in Business Administration at Georgetown University. While at Georgetown, he worked at the A. Philip Randolph Institute, the Congressional Joint Economic Committee and the White House Office of Political Affairs under President Bill Clinton. He worked as a mergers and acquisitions attorney at the Wilmington office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP, and served as chairman of the Multicultural Judges & Lawyers Section of the Delaware State Bar Association. In 2004, Chip was chosen as a Delaware delegate to the Democratic National Convention. Chip then studied at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, earning a Master’s in Public Administration. While at Harvard, Chip earned the prestigious Don K. Price Award – the highest award given in the program. He served as Chief Democratic Analyst for Delaware Tonight, the nightly television newscast, until WHYY-TV eliminated the program.

Chip has taken on leadership roles in a range of civic organizations, including United Way of Delaware, the Delaware Symphony, Opera Delaware, the American Red Cross of Delaware, Nehemiah Gateway Community Development Corporation, Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, Kuumba Academy Charter School, Trustees of Color, the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation and the Delaware Art Museum.

Heatlh

Not applicable. However, fiscal discipline and economic growth will help provide additional resources to strengthen health-care services offered by state government.

Environment

Not applicable. However, fiscal discipline and economic growth will help provide additional resources to improve our state parks and protect our environment.

Public Safety

Not applicable. However, fiscal discipline and economic growth will help provide additional resources to ensure acceptable levels of public safety throughout the state.

Economy

“Restoring Prosperity” is the theme of the Flowers for Treasurer campaign, whose goals are outlined in The Flowers Framework (http://chipflowers.com/wp-content/uploads/TheFlowersFramework.pdf), 18 specific ideas to assist Delaware in competing in today’s 21st century global economy. Those ideas are grouped under four core themes: fiscal responsibility; economic growth and stimulating businesses; planning and forecasting; and revamping financial agencies. Key proposals under the Flowers Framework include:

A native Delawarean, Velda Jones-Potter was raised in a working class family of humble means, by parents who modeled a strong work ethic and valued education. Velda excelled academically, graduating valedictorian from Wilmington’s P.S. DuPont High School. She received an academic scholarship to attend the University of Delaware and, in 1979, became the first African-American women to graduate with an engineering degree in the history of the institution.

Mrs. Jones-Potter earned her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. She graduated summa cum laude and was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma national business honor society. After graduating, Velda worked her way up the corporate ladder at DuPont, becoming a successful executive.

While at DuPont, Velda spent 18 months with the City of Wilmington (as a “loaned executive”), where she served as Finance Director. As the first woman to serve in this role, Ms. Jones-Potter took Wilmington's beleaguered finances from four consecutive years of deficits to a $1.3 million dollar surplus. The News Journal took notice of the turnaround declaring Wilmington ‘Indebted to the Finance Chief’.

Mrs. Jones-Potter later served as an Executive Vice President at MBNA America (now Bank of America) before launching her own successful management consulting firm, Jones-Potter and Associates. Mrs. Jones-Potter is involved in many civic activities and has been President of the Police Athletic League of Wilmington and was a founding member of the East Side Charter School's Board of Directors. She has served on the boards of various community institutions including FAME, Inc. (Forum to Advance Minorities in Engineering), Community Housing, Inc., the Mary Campbell Center, Girls, Inc., and the University of Delaware Audit Committee. For these and other accomplishments, she was awarded a Trailblazer Award by the Agenda for Delaware Women for enhancing the visibility and stature of professional women in Delaware and the University of Delaware Presidential Citation, to name a few.

State Treasurer Jones-Potter resides in Wilmington with her husband, Wilmington City Councilman Charles Potter, Jr., and her two sons, Charles III (Chaz) – also a graduate of the University of Delaware; and Brandon – a sophomore at St. Joseph’s University.

Since taking office, Treasurer Velda Jones-Potter has made financial education a hallmark of her administration. Velda created the ‘State Treasurer’s/TD Bank School Takeover’ program to educate elementary students about managing money. More than 1.100 children have been educated through this program.

Velda has helped to educate Delawareans on the importance of saving and planning for retirement through new programs like ‘Fast Forward Your Financial Future’ – a retirement planning and money management conference for mature Delawareans, and Lunch & Learn Sessions at the Treasurer’s Office.

In order to ensure a better future for all, we must make financial education a top priority - and that means empowering families and giving them the tools they need to make sound financial decisions. In a full term of office, Velda plans a massive extension of these programs – both public/private partnerships, free to participants, and at no cost to taxpayers.

Heatlh

While this is not an area of direct involvement and impact, Treasurer Jones-Potter recognizes the health problems that arise from financial stress experienced by individuals and their families. This has never been more evident than the past two years of severe unemployment, home foreclosures, bankruptcies and declines in investments. This is an area where financial education can have a profound impact and, in the coming years as Treasurer, Velda plans to work with financial and health professionals to address this issue.

Environment

When it comes to the environment, Delaware must act as a responsible steward. In economic terms, this means creating green jobs and investing in renewable energy resources.

Treasurer Velda Jones-Potter continues to compile a strong environmental record. Velda supports the expansion of wind farms, recycling programs, and green energy initiatives. Under her leadership, the Treasury has gone green and significantly decreased its footprint.

Treasurer Velda Jones-Potter led the charge for the Treasury to go paperless. Under her leadership, the Treasury has implemented new technology allowing state employees to remotely deposit checks – saving paper and time. Additionally, state employees are now paid by direct deposit which has helped the state decrease its paper waste.

Velda knows that our future depends on implementing smart and sustainable environmental policies. She was a delegate to the International Summit on Climate Control held by the United Nations in Ney York. She believes strongly that the investor community can and must play a significant role in leading the transition to new technologies. In a full term as Treasurer, she will continue to lead the state on this vital issue.

Public Safety

Not Applicable

Economy

Times are tough right now and it remains hard for all of Delaware's families. At the height of the greatest recession since the Great Depression, Governor Markell appointed Velda Jones-Potter to steer Delaware through uncertain times.

Velda understands her role as a steward of taxpayer dollars and the importance of this role to the State’s fiscal health and overall economy. Effective management of taxpayer dollars through responsible cash, investment, and debt management practices are critical to helping Delaware through hard times. With the proper management, Delaware will have more to invest in its economy and critical government services can be maintained.

Treasurer Jones-Potter serves on Delaware Economic & Financial Advisory Board, which analyses economic trends and conditions and forecasts revenues and expenses for the state; helping to drive key strategic fiscal management decisions. Under Treasurer Jones-Potter's leadership, the State Treasurer's Office has enabled Delaware to maintain its AAA Bond rating, ensuring Delaware’s access to capital at the lowest interest rates available.

This is no small achievement.

Delaware is one of only seven states in the country to maintain its rating and has saved the state $10.23 million already. Maintaining our AAA Bond rating is critical to the state's economic success as it helps us to develop, invest, and build a strong economy.

In a full term as Treasurer, Velda plans to continue investing with local banks that keep money in our state, help to stimulate our local economy, hire Delawareans and support our communities. She also plans to actively pursue initiatives that support the development of small businesses.