by Daveda Gruber:
On Tuesday state Representative Vernon Jones D-GA., announced that he is resigning his seat. Last week Jones endorsed President Trump for reelection.
Georgia Democrats did not respond in a good way.
Jones was born on born October 31, 1960 in Laurel Hill, North Carolina and grew up on a farm in rural North Carolina.
Jones was chief executive officer of Dekalb County, Georgia from 2001 until 2009 and in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1993 to 2001. As Dekalb County CEO, Jones presided over the Board of Commissioners, oversaw a 7,000 employee county workforce, and managed a $2.6 billion county operating budget.
He unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate in 2008. After unsuccessful runs for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010 and DeKalb County Sheriff in 2014. Jones was elected to the Georgia House in 2016.
It was reported that Jones told “The Rashad Richey Morning Show,” which is a talk show in Atlanta, that despite his resignation he would not be leaving the Democratic Party.
He reportedly said, “somebody’s got to be in there to hold them accountable ̶̶ hold them accountable to how they are treating black people [and] root out the bigotry.”
In a separate official statement announcing his resignation Jones said, “Turn the lights off, I have left the plantation. Someone else can occupy that suite. Therefore, I intend not to complete my term effective April 22, 2020.”
Chairwoman of the state Democratic Party, Senator Nikema Williams called Jones an “embarrassment,” and added, he “does not stand for our values.”
Democratic parties in DeKalb and Rockdale counties planned to censure Jones for the Trump endorsement.
After his original endorsement, Jones was quoted as saying, “President Trump’s handling of the economy, his support for historically black colleges and his criminal justice initiatives drew me to endorse his campaign.”
The resignation lead to a series of tweets:
I’ve seen more Democrats attack me for my decision to endorse @realDonaldTrump than ask me why.
They’ve used and abused folks in my community for far too long, taking our votes for granted.
Black Americans are waking up. An uprising is near.
— Vernon Jones (@RepVernonJones) April 21, 2020
.@RepVernonJones to @Rashad1380 : “I don’t care what the Democrat Party does to me. What are they going to do? Spank me?”
— Vernon Jones (@RepVernonJones) April 22, 2020
The Left hates me because they can’t control me.
They can stay mad.
— Vernon Jones (@RepVernonJones) April 22, 2020
A spokesman for Jones said that Jones also will not be seeking reelection.
During his time as DeKalb County chief executive, Jones was accused of rape. Jones claimed the act was consensual and no charges were ever filed. He was investigated by a grand jury for alleged corruption later on. The grand jury could not find evidence to prove a crime.
In the statement that gave his resignation Jones reportedly said, “I intend to help the Democrat Party get rid of its bigotry against Black people that are independent and conservative. I endorsed the White guy (Donald J. Trump) that let Blacks out of jail, and they endorsed the White guy (Joe Biden) that put Blacks in jail.”
I can see why Democrats do not like Jones. Conservatives may want to support him, though. Maybe switching parties would be to his political advantage?
I heard Jones on Patriots in Tune with Toots Sweet and Jewels Jones on Tuesday night. He seems to be a likeable guy who is facing the reality that the Democrats don’t care about the black population in general.
You can see the part of the broadcast which shows the interview here:
