Emil Jones

Infobox State_Senator


name=Emil Jones


state_senate=Illinois
state=Illinois
district=14th
term=1983 -
preceded=
succeeded=Incumbent
date of birth=birth date and age|1935|10|18
place of birth=Chicago, Illinois
date of death=
place of death=
spouse=Dr. Lorrie Jones
profession=
religion=Roman Catholic
party=Democratic

Emil Jones, Jr. is the President of the Illinois Senate. A Democrat, he was previously a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1973 until 1983.

Education

Senator Jones studied at Chicago's Tilden Technical High School, where he graduated in 1953. He went on to earn an Associate in Arts degree from the Loop Junior College (now Harold Washington College). Thereafter he attended Roosevelt University, where he majored in Business Administration. [cite web |url=http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=BS024372 |title=Emil Jones bio |publisher=Project Vote Smart]

In 2004, Roosevelt University awarded Senator Jones with a Doctorate of Humane Letters Honoris Causa Degree. Chicago State University also awarded Senator Jones with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

Career prior to politics

Jones was a sewer inspector prior to becoming President of the Illinois Senate.

Political career

Senator Jones began his political career in 1973, when he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives. He served in that capacity from 1973 to 1983. During that time he served as the Chairman of the Insurance Committee and was an Assistant Democratic Leader. In 1982 he was elected to the Illinois Senate. In addition to being the president of the Senate, he also serves as a member of the Executive Committee.

Jones has had feuds during his time in office with other Democrats, most notably House Speaker Michael Madigan.cite news |first=Christopher |last=Wills |title=Illinois Democrats turn on each other |url=http://www.leadingthecharge.com/ViewArticle.aspx?id=131811&source=2 |work=Associated Press |date=2007-07 |accessdate=2007-07-16 ] cite news |authors=DAVE MCKINNEY, CHRIS FUSCO AND WHITNEY WOODWARD |title=Democrats' spat boils over: Jones sidelines Madigan pal |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/415632,CST-NWS-emil06.article |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=2007-06-06 |accessdate=2007-07-16 ] He is an ally of Governor Rod Blagojevich.cite news |title=Emil Jones, where are you? |url=http://www.bnd.com/editorial/story/80848.html |work=Belleville News-Democrat |date=2007-07-14 |accessdate=2007-07-16 ] Jones has teamed with fellow Chicago Democrat Blagojevich to propose plans for health care and education, paid for by $5 billion in increased business taxes and gambling. The plan does not have enough support to pass the Senate and according to Madigan would fail in the House.cite news |title=State budget talks give way to stalls, stunts |url=http://www.thesouthern.com/articles/2007/07/16/top/20834150.txt |publisher=The Southern Illinoisan |date=2007-07-14 |accessdate=2007-07-16 ] Jones faced scrutiny after it was reported that his wife received a $70,000 pay raise two months after she was and Jones were married and four moths after she started her position when Governor Rod Blagojevich created a special salary class for her position. [cite news |title=After Wedding, State Salary Skyrocketed |publisher=Belleville News-Democrat |date=2007-04-10]

Senator Jones is a member of the Forum of Senate Presidents' Board of Directors and the State Legislative Leaders Foundation's Board of Directors.

Jones announced in August 2008 that he will retire in January 2009. Of who would replace him on the ballot, his spokesperson said, "His preference, yes, would be to see his son [Emil Jones III] serve," which has prompted criticism and been described as "anointing one of his children to take over for him."cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/1114463,CST-NWS-jones19web.article |title=Keeping it in the family |last=McKinney|first=Dave|coauthors=Fusco, Chris |date=2008-08-19 |publisher=Chicago Sun-Times |accessdate=2008-08-19]

Political positions

During his time in the General Assembly, Jones has advocated for such issues as including funding public education in Illinois. Senator Jones was also instrumental in then-State Senator Barack Obama's United States Senate campaign. [cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/31/obamas.godfather.ap/index.html?eref=rss_politics&iref=polticker |title=Political 'godfather' boosted Obama's early career |publisher=CNN.com] A lifelong resident of Chicago, he is married to Dr. Lorrie Jones, a psychologist. He and his late wife Patricia had four children.

Controversies

A black Hillary Clinton delegate, Delmarie Cobb, accused Emil Jones of calling her an "Uncle Tom". [cite web |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/1124667,CST-NWS-dem25.article |title=Delegate says Jones called her 'Uncle Tom' |publisher=suntimes.com]

References

External links

* [http://ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=1217 Illinois General Assembly - Senator Emil Jones Jr. (D) 14th District] official IL Senate website
** [http://ilga.gov/senate/SenatorBills.asp?MemberID=1217 Bills] [http://ilga.gov/senate/SenCommittees.asp?MemberID=1217 Committees]
* [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=BS024372 Project Vote Smart - Senator Emil Jones Jr. (IL)] profile
*"Follow the Money" - Emil Jones Jr
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200614&c=419750 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200414&c=395904 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200214&c=18623 2002] campaign contributions
* [http://www.senatedem.ilga.gov/page_display.asp?pid=2 Illinois State Senate Democrats - Senate President Emil Jones, Jr.] profile
succession box
before=James "Pate" Philip
title=President of the Illinois Senate
years=2003ndash Present
after=Incumbentsuccession box
before=James "Pate" Philip
title=Minority Leader of the Illinois Senate
years=1993ndash 2003
after=Frank Watson