Ella Jones Explained

Ella Jones
Office:12th Mayor of Ferguson
Term Start:June 17, 2020
Predecessor:James Knowles III
Education:University of Missouri–St. Louis (BA)
Party:Democratic

Ella Jones (born 1955) is an American chromatographer, pastor, and politician who serves as the 12th mayor of Ferguson, Missouri. A former member of the Ferguson City Council, Jones is the first African-American and woman elected mayor of the city.[1]

Education

Jones earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry from the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Career

Prior to entering politics, Jones was a high-pressure liquid chromatographer. She worked at the Washington University School of Medicine and KV Pharmaceutical before becoming a sales director with Mary Kay. In April 2015, Jones was the first African-American elected to the Ferguson City Council, where she represented the city's first ward.[2] In February 2020, Jones was selected to serve on the United States Environmental Protection Agency Local Government Advisory Committee.[3]

In the 2017 municipal election, Jones ran for mayor, receiving 42.77% of the vote. It was the city's first election after the shooting of Michael Brown and subsequent Ferguson unrest.[4]

In the June 2, 2020, mayoral election, Jones defeated fellow council member Heather Robinett. Jones succeeded incumbent James Knowles III, a Republican who was unable to seek re-election due to term limits.[5] [6] On June 17, 2020, Jones was sworn in as the first black and female mayor of Ferguson.[7] [8]

She is also a pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.[9]

Personal life

Jones moved to Ferguson, Missouri with her husband, Tim. Tim Jones died in 2013.[10] Jones has one daughter.

References

  1. Web site: Andy . Rose. Ferguson elects first black mayor in city's history. 2020-06-03. CNN. 3 June 2020 .
  2. Web site: About us – Ella Jones for Mayor of Ferguson. 2020-06-03. en.
  3. Web site: 2020-02-25. EPA Administrator Appoints Ferguson, Missouri, City Council Member Ella M. Jones to EPA Local Government Advisory Committee on Small Community Subcommittee. 2020-06-03. US EPA. en.
  4. Web site: St. Louis County, Missouri. https://web.archive.org/web/20170405130406/http://www.stlouisco.com/Portals/8/docs/document%20library/elections/eresults/el170404/el45.htm. 2017-04-05.
  5. Web site: Schlinkmann. Mark. Ella Jones becomes the first African American and first woman elected mayor of Ferguson. 2020-06-03. STLtoday.com. 3 June 2020 . en.
  6. Web site: Ferguson elects its first black and first woman mayor. 2020-06-03. www.cbsnews.com. 3 June 2020 . en-US.
  7. News: Ella Jones sworn in as first Black woman mayor of Ferguson. Alexis. Zotos. KMOV4. June 17, 2020. August 7, 2020.
  8. Web site: Rosenbaum. Jason. Ferguson Elects Its First African American Mayor. 2020-06-04. news.stlpublicradio.org. en.
  9. News: Medina. Jennifer. 2020-06-03. Ella Jones Is Elected First Black Mayor of Ferguson. en-US. The New York Times. 2020-06-03. 0362-4331.
  10. Web site: Ruiz. Michelle. Ferguson Mayor Ella Jones on Making History and the Power of Black Female Leaders. 2020-08-16. Vogue. July 2020. en-us.

External links