[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 138 (Tuesday, December 7, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRATULATING BONNIE JONES ON HER RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 7, 2004

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
Bonnie Jones on her retirement as the Escambia County Supervisor of 
Elections.
  A fixture in Escambia County politics, Bonnie Jones was appointed 
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections by Governor Lawton Chiles on 
August 1, 1994 to fill the vacancy of Mr. Joe Oldmixon. Mrs. Jones was 
officially elected on November 8, 1994 and was re-elected without 
opposition in 1996 and 2000.
  Born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, Bonnie gained employment with 
the Elections office at the young age of eighteen. Her love of 
democracy and Northwest Florida lead the way to her involvement with 
other community organizations, such as the Rotary Club of Pensacola, 
the Board of Directors and Secretary for the Ronald McDonald House, the 
Woodham High School Advisory Board, and the Pensacola Pen Wheels. 
Currently she is a member of the Florida State Association of 
Supervisors of Elections, the Elections Center Professional Education 
Program, the Pensacola North Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, and the 
Woman's Board of the Baptist Health Care Foundation.
  With a partisan atmosphere surrounding the 2000 elections, Bonnie was 
a fair and steadfast public servant in Escambia County. She was 
diligent in ensuring every vote was counted, including the large number 
of military absentee ballots arriving from overseas. Her foresight and 
wise choice to use the optical scan prior to the 2000 Elections 
prevented problems in the county with dimpled and hanging chads, which 
other Floridians experienced.
  Today, I salute a woman who has dedicated her life to ensuring 
liberty and defending the principles of this country. Her exemplary 
service has guaranteed that the United States will continue to prosper 
as the world's greatest democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I would like to 
congratulate Bonnie Jones on her retirement and wish her many more 
years of success and happiness.

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