Robert Jones (Michigan politician)

Infobox_State_Representative


imagesize = 150px
name= Robert Jones


state_house=Michigan
state= Michigan
district= 60th
term_start= 2007
preceded= Alexander C. Lipsey
succeeded= Incumbent
date of birth=April 22, 1944
place of birth=Jeffersonville, Georgia
date of death=
place of death=
spouse=Callie Baskerville-Jones
profession=Politician
religion=Baptist
party= Democratic|

Robert B. Jones (Born April 22, 1944) is a politician from the state of Michigan. A Democrat, he served as the mayor of Kalamazoo from 1998 to 2006. He is now a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives, representing the 60th District in Kalamazoo County and includes all of the city of Kalamazoo, all of Cooper Township and a small portion of the city of Portage.

Early life

Jones was born in Jeffersonville, Georgia on April 22, 1944. He attended public schools in Brooklyn and graduated from John Jay High School in 1962. In 1966 he received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Fort Valley State University. Jones received his Masters Degree in chemistry in 1971. He also attended Western Michigan University. Jones spent 28 years working for Pharmacia & Upjohn Chemical Production as a research chemist.

Political career

Jones was elected mayor of Kalamazoo in 1998. As mayor, he presided over significant economic growth, focusing large amounts of money on attracting new developments in the downtown area. He was re-elected mayor four more times, serving until 2006. In 2006, he was elected to the Michigan State House to replace retiring Representative Alexander C. Lipsey. He sits on the Commerce, Health Policy, Senior Health, Security and Retirement, and Tax Policy Committees.

Personal

Robert Jones is married to Callie Baskerville-Jones. Together, they have six children and one grandchild. Jones lives in Kalamazoo and belongs to Mount Zion Baptist Church. In 2003, Jones received the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Humanitarian Award.

Jones is quickly recognizable for his signature, tightly curled handlebar moustache.

Electoral history

*2006 election for State House
**Robert Jones (D), 71%
**Armando Romero (R), 29%

External links

* [http://060.housedems.com/ Official Website]
* [http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:ET98TU6Wqk8J:www.ci.kalamazoo.mi.us/docs/MayorBio2005.pdf+Mayor+Robert+Jones&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us Biography]