Chris Coons was elected New Castle County Council President in 2000 and earned a reputation for delivering solid results. He led the fight to preserve open spaces, improve public safety, and fought for an independent ethics commission.  A longtime New Castle County resident, Chris grew up in the Pike Creek and Hockessin areas and lives in Wilmington with his wife, Annie, and their three children, Michael, Jack and Maggie.  Chris worked as in-house counsel for W.L Gore & Associates for eight years. He has also worked with several non-profits, including the Council for the Homeless, the education-oriented "I Have a Dream" Foundation, and the South African Council of Churches, and serves on several boards including First State Innovation, the Bear/Glasgow Boys & Girls Club, and the Delaware College of Art & Design. Chris has been named an honorary commander of the 166th Air Wing of the Delaware Air National Guard, and is a honorary life member of the Minquadale Fire Company. A graduate of Yale Law School, Chris also holds a bachelor's in chemistry and political science from Amherst College and a master's degree in ethics from Yale Divinity School.