Danny Jones (politician)
Danny Jones | |
---|---|
Mayor of Charleston | |
In office June 1, 2003 – January 7, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Jay Goldman |
Succeeded by | Amy Shuler Goodwin |
Personal details | |
Born | Daniel Boyd Jones August 16, 1950 |
Nationality | American |
Political party | Independent (2016–present) Republican (1971–2016) |
Daniel Boyd Jones (born August 16, 1950) is an American businessman and politician. He served four terms as the mayor of Charleston, West Virginia from 2003 to 2019.[1]
Jones grew up in Charleston and served in the
Early life, education, military service, and career
Jones grew up in the South Hills neighborhood of Charleston. He attended Greenbrier Military School and graduated from George Washington High School.[2]
Jones served in the
Political career
Jones first registered as a Republican in 1971. Beginning in 1984, he won a string of 12 primary and general elections as a Republican.[1]
Sheriff and state delegate
Jones was
Jones was then elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates, serving a single two-year term.[2] He did not seek reelection in 1990 in order to focus on his restaurant business, Danny's Rib House, in Nitro, West Virginia, a "rib shack" operated by Jones for four years.[2][5]
Mayor of Charleston
Elections
Jones first became mayor of Charleston in 2003.[6] In 2007, Jones won a second term in office, receiving 4,304 votes (79%) and defeating Democratic candidate Hershel Layne, who won 1,142 votes (21%).[7] In 2011, Jones won a third term with 3,349 votes (71%), defeating Democratic candidate Janet Thompson, who won 1,376 votes (29%).[8]
In 2015, Jones won a fourth term as mayor of Charleston, becoming the first person ever to serve four terms in the position.[6] In the 2015 Republican primary, Jones defeated a conservative primary challenger.[1] In the election, Jones received the endorsement of the Charleston Gazette-Mail for reelection.[9] Jones won 3,623 votes, defeating Democratic candidate Paul Monroe (who won 1,984 votes) and independent candidate Bill Carpenter (who won 191 votes).[6]
In 2016, Jones announced that he would not run for reelection as mayor, or for any other elected office,[1] in the next mayoral election in 2018.[10]
Tenure and policies
Jones has cited, as major accomplishments in office, the
Jones was mayor during the
Leaving Republican Party
In September 2016, Jones left the Republican Party after 45 years, switching his party affiliation to "unaffiliated" and endorsing
Awards and honors
In 2018, the West Virginia Municipal League honored Jones with its James C. Hunt Lifetime Achievement Award, the fourth time the award was issued in 26 years.[11]
See also
- List of mayors of Charleston, West Virginia
- Timeline of Charleston, West Virginia
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h David Gutman, After 45 years, Danny Jones leaves Republican Party, Charleston Gazette-Mail (June 17, 2016).
- ^ a b c d e f g Sandy Wells, Mayor Danny Jones looks back on his eclectic life, Charleston Gazette-Mail (July 8, 2012).
- ^ "Jones leaving Kanawha sheriff's job," Bluefield Daily Telegraph (August 21, 1988), A-3.
- ^ a b Andy Wessels, W. Va. sheriff's distinctive style arresting Charleston, Pittsburgh Press (August 10, 1986).
- ^ Charleston Mayor Danny Jones returns to the kitchen for his barbecue ribs Archived 2016-10-06 at the Wayback Machine, WOWK-TV (October 10, 2013).
- ^ a b c d Matt Murphy, Danny Jones wins historic fourth term as Charleston mayor Archived 2017-01-14 at the Wayback Machine, Charleston Gazette-Mail (May 16, 2015).
- ^ Anna Baxter, Mayor Danny Jones Re-Elected[permanent dead link], WSAZ-TV (May 15, 2007).
- ^ Anna Baxter & Michael Hyland, Charleston Mayor Danny Jones Wins Reelection[permanent dead link] WSAZ-TV (May 18, 2011).
- ^ Editorial: Mayor Danny Jones for another term Archived 2017-01-14 at the Wayback Machine, Charleston Gazette-Mail (February 23, 2015).
- ^ Elaina Sauber, Amy Goodwin announces run for Charleston mayor, Charleston Gazette-Mail (February 23, 2017).
- ^ a b c Lori Kersey, Municipal League gives Charleston Mayor Jones lifetime achievement award, West Virginia Gazette Mail (August 16, 2018).
- ^ a b Eyder Peralta, Charleston Mayor: Company Behind Chemical Leak Run By 'Renegades' All Things Considered, NPR (January 14, 2014).
- John Wiley & Sons, 2015), p. 192.
- ^ a b Marina Fang, GOP Mayor Leaves Republican Party, In Part Because Of Donald Trump, Huffington Post (June 19, 2016).