At-large candidate filed necessary paperwork to appear on ballot

EDENTON — Regina Bond, a 43-year-old Edenton resident with a felony conviction, has officially completed the necessary paperwork to advance her candidacy for Edenton Town Council, according to the Chowan County Board of Elections Director Kristi Nixon. Her filing comes amid scrutiny over her eligibility due to her past criminal record, which includes a conviction for second-degree murder.

Bond issued a statement Wednesday evening — since she’s been in the news of late because of her past, her statement is published in its entirety at the end of this story.

“I am not seeking pity. I am seeking progress for me, for our town, and for every resident who has ever felt unseen. Let’s build a future where no one is written off. No apologies. Just progress,” she wrote.

Bond, who is running for one of the town’s at-large council seats, was convicted in 2005 in Pasquotank County and served her sentence under the supervision of the North Carolina Department of Corrections. She was incarcerated at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women following the conviction.

According to state election law, individuals with felony convictions are eligible to run for office in North Carolina once their full sentence — including prison time, probation, and parole — has been completed. 

Nixon said upon review of the necessary documents, Bond has met those requirements, including residency in Chowan County and citizenship, and is legally cleared to appear on the November ballot — her eligibility under current law is not in question.

The North Carolina Constitution bars individuals convicted of a felony from voting or holding office until their rights are restored. However, once restoration is complete — typically after the completion of all terms of sentencing — felons may register to vote and run for office like any other citizen. Moreover, Bond is a registered voter — registering as a Democrat in October of 2022 in Chowan County.

Bond’s candidacy sets up a contested race against incumbent Councilman Craig Miller, who is seeking reelection to the at-large seat he currently holds. The at-large council position represents all voters within the town, rather than a specific ward.

With the election still months away, voters will have an opportunity to evaluate both candidates’ records and platforms ahead of November’s vote.

Bond’s statement

I am Regina Bond, and I am running for Edenton Town Council because I believe in progress, second chances,  and the power of a life transformed. 

I won’t spend time apologizing for the person I was over two decades ago. I’ve done that already in court, in  prison, in private, and most importantly, through my actions every day since. My story is not one of excuses, but  of evolution. I am not running from my past; I am running because of it. 

Yes, I was convicted of a serious crime at the age of 22. I have never denied that. But the person I was then is  not the woman I am today. I’ve spent the past twenty years doing the hard work of healing, growing, and showing  up for my family, for my neighbors, and for the people in Edenton who have often felt forgotten or counted out.  Since my release I have mentored others, worked, paid taxes, and committed myself to service long before I ever filled out a form to run for office. 

I decided to run because the council table should reflect the whole community, not just those with perfect resumes,  but also those who have walked through fire and come out stronger. My candidacy is not about erasing my past  but about building a future where people like me are not shut out of civic leadership simply because of where  we’ve been. It’s about making sure the voices of the formerly incarcerated, the overlooked, the underserved, and  the underestimated are finally heard and represented. 

There are people in our community who know what it means to fight for a second chance, and I want to be a voice  for them, for us. I believe in safer neighborhoods, economic opportunities, and restorative justice. I believe that lived experience matters. And I believe that progress looks like people who were once dismissed becoming the  very leaders who help chart the path forward. 

I respect the legal process and as you reported, complied with all necessary requirements to ensure my eligibility.  That’s part of accountability, something I’ve never shied away from. But I also call on the people of Edenton to  remember that redemption is real, that leadership comes in many forms, and that no one should be defined solely  by the worst chapter of their life. 

I am not seeking pity. I am seeking progress for me, for our town, and for every resident who has ever felt unseen. Let’s build a future where no one is written off. No apologies. Just progress. 

Sincerely, Regina R. Bond