Education
Master of Public Administration (MPA), North Carolina Central University
Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ), North Carolina Central University
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History and Government, St. Augustine College

District 1 | Wake County Commissioners

Master of Public Administration (MPA), North Carolina Central University
Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ), North Carolina Central University
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History and Government, St. Augustine College

Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ), North Carolina Central University
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History and Government, St. Augustine College
Associate Degree in Paralegal Technology (A.A.S.), Durham Technical Community College

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History and Government, St. Augustine College
Associate Degree in Paralegal Technology (A.A.S.), Durham Technical Community College
Personal

Personal
Married, three adult children, four grandchildren
Enjoys playing golf and riding motorcycles

Don Mial earned an associate degree in paralegal technology from Durham Technical Community College, a Bachelor of Arts in history and government from St. Augustine College, a Master of Science in criminal justice, and a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina Central University. He is married and has three adult children and four grandchildren.

District 1 | Wake County Government

Professional
30-year military career, retired as an Army Chief Warrant Officer Four in 2008
Served in support of Vietnam War, Cold War and Desert Storm

Served on Active Duty and North Carolina Army National Guard
Intensive Probation and Parole Officer, N.C. Division of Probation and Parole, 1992-1994
Parole Case Analyst, N.C. Parole Commission, 1994-1996

Intensive Probation and Parole Officer, N.C. Division of Probation and Parole, 1992-1994
Parole Case Analyst, N.C. Parole Commission, 1994-1996
Director, Wake Juvenile Detention Center, 1996-2001

Parole Case Analyst, N.C. Parole Commission, 1994-1996
Director, Wake Juvenile Detention Center, 1996-2001
Manager, N.C. Department of Public Safety’s Division of Juvenile Justice, 2001-2006

Director, Wake Juvenile Detention Center, 1996-2001
Manager, N.C. Department of Public Safety’s Division of Juvenile Justice, 2001-2006
Assistant Facilities Director, N.C. Department of Public Safety’s Division of Juvenile Justice, 2006-2015

Manager, N.C. Department of Public Safety’s Division of Juvenile Justice, 2001-2006
Assistant Facilities Director, N.C. Department of Public Safety’s Division of Juvenile Justice, 2006-2015
Instructor at Johnston Community College and Central Carolina Community College

Assistant Facilities Director, N.C. Department of Public Safety’s Division of Juvenile Justice, 2006-2015
Instructor at Johnston Community College and Central Carolina Community College
N.C. State Employees Association

Don served as a chief warrant officer four in the U.S. Army for 30 years before retiring. He previously worked as an assistant facilities director and manager with the N.C. Department of Public Safety’s Division of Juvenile Justice, director of the Wake Juvenile Detention Center, parole case analyst with the N.C. Parole Commission, and intensive probation and parole officer with the N.C. Division of Probation and Parole. He was also an instructor at Johnston Community College and Central Carolina Community College.

Contact Commissioner Mial

Elected: 2022
Term expires: December 2026

Public Safety Committee Vice Chair

2022

General election
Donald Mial defeated Chanel N. Harris in the general election for Wake County Board of Commissioners District 1 on November 8, 2022.

Donald Mial

2018

General election
Heather Scott defeated Donald Mial and Jim Thompson in the general election for Wake County Public School System, District 1 on November 6, 2018.

2016

Mial ran in the 2012 election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 39. He lost to incumbent Darren Jackson in the Democratic primary on May 8, 2012.

Don was elected to the Wake County Board of Commissioners for District 1 in 2022. He previously ran for Wake County Public School System District 1 in 2018 and for the North Carolina House of Representatives District 39 in 2012, but did not win either race.

Donald Mial - Ballotpedia

2026 North Carolina General Election

As of April 6, 2026, Don Mial’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Economy

I support greater focus on Wake County Public Schools construction and re-assignment through Growth Management Strategy to ensure adequate funding for Wake County Public Schools and despite some signs of improvement, our public schools are vital to our economic development and if our students are going to be globally competitive, we must do a much better job producing graduates that are proficient in reading and mathematics.

The Big 3

Furthermore, we must urge our teachers to continue their desire for national certification and they should be rewarded for those additional achievements.

Therefore, to address the student achievement gap, we must improve and support more pre-kindergarten programs. The earlier we can begin to influence a student’s learning ability, we give that student a greater possibility to perform well in school; especially doing their Middle School years. This will also influence the dropout rate as well as the graduation rate.

Supports prioritizing Wake County Public Schools construction, reassignment, and funding through the Growth Management Strategy.

Advocates for rewarding teachers who pursue national certification.

Supports expanding and improving pre-kindergarten programs to address student achievement gaps.

- Supports prioritizing Wake County Public Schools construction, reassignment, and funding through the Growth Management Strategy.
- Advocates for rewarding teachers who pursue national certification.
- Supports expanding and improving pre-kindergarten programs to address student achievement gaps.

Public Services

The delivery of Health and Human Resources related services for all children, the elderly, disabled and low-income families. Thereby, working with health care professionals and community entities. We must provide services to address, Food and Health assistance, consumer and housing concerns, childcare/abuse, adult home assistance, domestics abuse services and housing assistance for our veterans.

Supports housing assistance for veterans as part of health and human services delivery.

- Supports housing assistance for veterans as part of health and human services delivery.

Housing & Urban Development

“This has been a challenging budget for our board because of the roughly $35 million revenue shortfall created by a growing number of property tax appeals and the Blue Ridge property tax loophole,” said Chair Don Mial. “We committed the $8 million in new revenue available in FY2027 to important public safety needs such as reopening the jail annex and adding new EMTs to meet the demands of growth.”

Wake County okays $2.28 billion budget with two cent tax hike

EMS, Fire Departments and Public Safety. As, I travel around this county and talk with the great people of Wake County they have only re-enforced my belief that the platform, I’m running on is vital and very important. Youth Gang, Adequate Facilities and Treatment for our citizens that have Mental Health concerns. The issue of Gang activity is becoming a hot topic in Wake County and other parts of the country. Therefore, I propose to create a Multi-Agency Task Force to address this issue. The security and safety of our youth are of the utmost important.

We must ensure that our EMS, Fire Departments and Public Safety are properly funded to provide the services that our community needs.

As county board chair, committed available Fiscal Year 2027 revenue to reopen the jail annex and add emergency medical technicians.

Proposes a multi-agency task force to address youth gang activity in Wake County.

Supports funding emergency medical services, fire departments, and public-safety services.

- As county board chair, committed available Fiscal Year 2027 revenue to reopen the jail annex and add emergency medical technicians.
- Proposes a multi-agency task force to address youth gang activity in Wake County.
- Supports funding emergency medical services, fire departments, and public-safety services.

Public Safety

January 17, 2025
Dear Secretary Buttigieg:

I am writing on behalf of the Wake County Board of Commissioners to express our support for the Wake Forest S-Line Mobility Hub application for the Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Program for 2025. This grant is being submitted by the Town of Wake Forest in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).

Commissioners LH Regular size logo.indd (PDF)

Wake County is one of the five fastest growing large counties in the United States; we are currently growing at a rate of 51 people a day. Improving transportation options and access is critical to the future success of our rapidly growing County and region. The Mobility Hub project aligns with the goals in our local transit investment plan, which include better connecting our region and our communities while increasing access to transit and providing frequent, reliable, urban mobility.

As county board vice chair, supported a grant application for the Wake Forest S-Line Mobility Hub to improve transit access and connections.

- As county board vice chair, supported a grant application for the Wake Forest S-Line Mobility Hub to improve transit access and connections.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

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Don Mial

- Proposes a multi-agency task force to address youth gang activity in Wake County.
- Supports funding emergency medical services, fire departments, and public-safety services.

Don is from Raleigh, North Carolina. He has a master's degree in public administration and a master's degree in criminal justice from North Carolina Central University. He lives with his wife, three adult children, and four grandchildren in the Penselwood Drive neighborhood.

Don is a Wake County Commissioner for District 1. He works at the Wake County Board of Commissioners. He previously worked for the United States Army as a Chief Warrant Officer Four for 30 years, retiring in 2008, and for the state of North Carolina in roles including Intensive Probation and Parole Officer, Parole Case Analyst, Assistant Facilities Director, Manager, and Director of the Wake Juvenile Detention Center from 1996 to 2001.

Donald Mial is currently a member of the Wake County Board of Commissioners representing District 1. He was elected in 2022 and has served one term. He previously ran for the North Carolina House of Representatives District 39 in 2012 and did not win. He previously ran for the Wake County Public School System, District 1 in 2018 and did not win.

Said, "The delivery of Health and Human Resources related services for all children, the elderly, disabled and low-income families. Thereby, working with health care professionals and community entities. We must provide services to address, Food and Health assistance, consumer and housing concerns, childcare/abuse, adult home assistance, domestics abuse services and housing assistance for our veterans."

For Candidate Don Mial on Issue public-safety:  
Acknowledges that gang activity is a growing concern in Wake County and other areas.

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay property and sales tax rates, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners can create, change, or abolish offices, positions, departments that are not required by law. 
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms, with no term limits. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.

Creates new laws and passes the budget for your county.