July 23, 2010
Gordon D. Jones Becomes Candidate For Huntington Park Board
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Determined to give back to the area where he was raised, Gordon D. Jones, of Huntington and formerly of Wayne has met the August 1st deadline by filing over 600 petitions with the Secretary of State’s office and is now a candidate for a seat on the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation Board on the non-partisan ballot for the November 2, 2010 general election. A former grant writer, county and regional planner and town manager, Jones said, if elected, he would pursue both public and private grant sources for area parks and recreation in a fashion “the likes of which have not be seen before in Greater Huntington and probably will not be seen again after I am gone”. Citing the Benedum Foundation which authorized more than $355,000,000 in the areas of education, economic development, health & human services and community development in West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania, Jones asked, “Why not the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District?” Jones said he has written and administered several millions of dollars in public and private grants during his career of three decades mostly in Northern Virginia.
A former student at Wayne High School where he ran track and was photographer for the school newspaper, Jones graduated from Kingwood High School in 1973 and went on to receive an AB degree cum laude and masters in public administration from West Virginia University in Morgantown. He is a Knight of the Golden Horseshoe, a winner of the State 4-H public speaking contest at Jackson’s Mill and was Student Body President of his high school.
Jones declared, “There are those that would have the public believe that the last candidate in the last campaign brought up the last issue of any importance and that what we need to do is be satisfied with status quo. I said in the beginning that I would define the issues in this campaign, I would take the election to the people and come November there would be a lot of surprised faces. I am doing just that.” Jones said he has been conducting a grassroots door to door campaign and has already knocked on over 1,000 doors and worn out “a couple pairs of shoes”.
Insisting that he is the candidate with ideas, Jones said gender equity in public restroom facilities is an issue important to him. “All women who have faced long lines at concerts and athletic events when the men have no lines know what I mean. I will bring potty parity to the park board, I will do it seeking available grant funds, and the rest of the state and nation can see how finally to solve this important problem.”
Noting the musical Annie playing at the Ritter Park Amphitheater, Jones said the performers have no dressing rooms. “I say it is time we write a grant and get dressing rooms built. These facilities should be second to none.”
During the campaigning, Jones said a lady asked him if the Park Board could meet at a better time than at 5 pm when she is just getting off from work. He said if he is elected, he would work to set the meeting time at 7 pm so the public can attend, and I will vote to have the meeting minutes and budget posted on the Internet and made available readily to anyone and everyone.
“Wherever I have been in the world and whatever I have accomplished in life”, Jones said, “I have always thought for at least a brief moment about Huntington, about my family and about my home among the West Virginia hills.” He said Bobby Bowden gave him some pretty good advice on one special Easter 38 years ago. The coach told him to always leave a place better than when he found it, let the other guy share in the credit and keep a sense of humor. Jones said, “I’m glad I volunteered to be in charge of that prayer breakfast for think how much richer my life has been because I did, not just for the hour and a half I got to sit up at the head table and talk to Coach Bobby Bowden but for all the years thereafter.”
Jones is the son of John D. and Dorothy Jones of Kingwood, West Virginia.
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Gordon D. Jones Becomes Candidate For Huntington Park Board
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Determined to give back to the area where he was raised, Gordon D. Jones, of Huntington and formerly of Wayne has met the August 1st deadline by filing over 600 petitions with the Secretary of State’s office and is now a candidate for a seat on the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation Board on the non-partisan ballot for the November 2, 2010 general election. A former grant writer, county and regional planner and town manager, Jones said, if elected, he would pursue both public and private grant sources for area parks and recreation in a fashion “the likes of which have not be seen before in Greater Huntington and probably will not be seen again after I am gone”. Citing the Benedum Foundation which authorized more than $355,000,000 in the areas of education, economic development, health & human services and community development in West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania, Jones asked, “Why not the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District?” Jones said he has written and administered several millions of dollars in public and private grants during his career of three decades mostly in Northern Virginia.
A former student at Wayne High School where he ran track and was photographer for the school newspaper, Jones graduated from Kingwood High School in 1973 and went on to receive an AB degree cum laude and masters in public administration from West Virginia University in Morgantown. He is a Knight of the Golden Horseshoe, a winner of the State 4-H public speaking contest at Jackson’s Mill and was Student Body President of his high school.
Jones declared, “There are those that would have the public believe that the last candidate in the last campaign brought up the last issue of any importance and that what we need to do is be satisfied with status quo. I said in the beginning that I would define the issues in this campaign, I would take the election to the people and come November there would be a lot of surprised faces. I am doing just that.” Jones said he has been conducting a grassroots door to door campaign and has already knocked on over 1,000 doors and worn out “a couple pairs of shoes”.
Insisting that he is the candidate with ideas, Jones said gender equity in public restroom facilities is an issue important to him. “All women who have faced long lines at concerts and athletic events when the men have no lines know what I mean. I will bring potty parity to the park board, I will do it seeking available grant funds, and the rest of the state and nation can see how finally to solve this important problem.”
Noting the musical Annie playing at the Ritter Park Amphitheater, Jones said the performers have no dressing rooms. “I say it is time we write a grant and get dressing rooms built. These facilities should be second to none.”
During the campaigning, Jones said a lady asked him if the Park Board could meet at a better time than at 5 pm when she is just getting off from work. He said if he is elected, he would work to set the meeting time at 7 pm so the public can attend, and I will vote to have the meeting minutes and budget posted on the Internet and made available readily to anyone and everyone.
“Wherever I have been in the world and whatever I have accomplished in life”, Jones said, “I have always thought for at least a brief moment about Huntington, about my family and about my home among the West Virginia hills.” He said Bobby Bowden gave him some pretty good advice on one special Easter 38 years ago. The coach told him to always leave a place better than when he found it, let the other guy share in the credit and keep a sense of humor. Jones said, “I’m glad I volunteered to be in charge of that prayer breakfast for think how much richer my life has been because I did, not just for the hour and a half I got to sit up at the head table and talk to Coach Bobby Bowden but for all the years thereafter.”
Jones is the son of John D. and Dorothy Jones of Kingwood, West Virginia.
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