Mary Fant Donnan
Encyclopedia
Mary Fant Donnan was the Democratic
nominee for North Carolina Commissioner of Labor
in the 2008 election.
Donnan is a graduate of Davidson College
and of the University of Adelaide
. Prior to attending Davidson College, Mary was President of the Young Republicans Club at Independence High School, in Independence, Virginia. She has worked as a public school music teacher in Virginia, as development director for the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research, as director of research and policy at the North Carolina Department of Labor and since 2001, as a program officer for the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
, working on community economic development.
In 2008, Donnan filed to run for Commissioner of Labor. She finished first in the May 6 Democratic primary, but did not receive more than 40 percent. She and the runner-up, John C. Brooks
, advanced to a runoff election
in June. Donnan defeated Brooks in the runoff, with approximately 68 percent of the vote. Donnan lost to incumbent Cherie Berry in a close November election.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee for North Carolina Commissioner of Labor
North Carolina Commissioner of Labor
The Commissioner of Labor of North Carolina is the head of the state's Department of Labor.The Constitution of North Carolina provides for the election by the people every four years of a Commissioner of Labor whose term of office runs concurrently with that of the governor...
in the 2008 election.
Donnan is a graduate of Davidson College
Davidson College
Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. The college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently ranked in the top ten liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine, although it has recently dropped to 11th in U.S. News...
and of the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
. Prior to attending Davidson College, Mary was President of the Young Republicans Club at Independence High School, in Independence, Virginia. She has worked as a public school music teacher in Virginia, as development director for the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research, as director of research and policy at the North Carolina Department of Labor and since 2001, as a program officer for the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation was formed by R.J. Reynolds' daughter, Mary Reynolds Babcock, and her siblings to honor their brother, Zachary Smith Reynolds, who was murdered at the age of 20 at the Reynolds family home, Reynolda House. The foundation to this day gives away millions of dollars...
, working on community economic development.
In 2008, Donnan filed to run for Commissioner of Labor. She finished first in the May 6 Democratic primary, but did not receive more than 40 percent. She and the runner-up, John C. Brooks
John C. Brooks
John C. Brooks served as North Carolina Commissioner of Labor from 1977 to 1993. His tenure included the 1991 fire at a chicken-processing plant in Hamlet that killed 25 workers. Brooks fined the plant $808,150, which was the largest such penalty in state history, but which was criticized as...
, advanced to a runoff election
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
in June. Donnan defeated Brooks in the runoff, with approximately 68 percent of the vote. Donnan lost to incumbent Cherie Berry in a close November election.