Don Jones (Ohio politician)

Don Jones
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 95th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 6, 2019
Preceded byAndy Thompson
Personal details
BornCadiz, Ohio, US
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAmy Jones
ResidenceFreeport, Ohio
Alma materAshland University

Donald Jones is a Republican member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 95th district since January 2019. Jones's district includes all of Carroll, Harrison, and Noble counties and portions of Belmont and Washington counties. Prior to elected office, Jones served as an agricultural education teacher at Harrison Central High School.[1] He also serves as a volunteer firefighter and EMT.[2]

Former State Representative Andy Thompson's term expired at the end of 2018. Thompson had served 8 years in the Ohio House and was term limited per the Ohio Constitution causing an open seat in the 95th district.[3] Unopposed in the Republican primary, Jones went on to win the seat with more than 65% of the vote.[4] He was sworn into office for the first time on January 6, 2019.

In 2021, Jone sponsored legislation to ban the teaching that any individual is “inherently racist,” that any individual “bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by the same race or sex,” or that slavery “constitutes the true founding” of the United States. Jones argued, "Critical race theory is a dangerous and flat-out wrong theory." Asked if any Ohio schools actually teach the things that Jones sought to ban, Jones could not cite any examples.[5]

References

  1. ^ Baker, Jon. "Don Jones will focus on education as 95th House District lawmaker". Times Reporter. Retrieved 2019-08-05.
  2. ^ Baker, Jon. "Brett Hillyer, Don Jones begin duties in Ohio House of Representatives". Times Reporter. Retrieved 2019-08-05.
  3. ^ Thompson, Andy (2018-10-24). "Thompson gives endorsement". Columbus Alive. Retrieved 2019-08-05.
  4. ^ Kelly, Michael (2018-11-07). "Republicans retain state representative seats". Marietta Times. Retrieved 2019-08-05.
  5. ^ Gabriel, Trip; Goldstein, Dana (2021-06-01). "Disputing Racism's Reach, Republicans Rattle American Schools". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-06-01.