Dwight Clinton Jones

Dwight Clinton Jones (born February 3, 1948) is an American politician and pastor who served as the 79th Mayor of Richmond, Virginia. Jones took office on January 1, 2009, was inaugurated for his second term on January 12, 2013, and was succeeded by Levar Stoney on December 31, 2016.^[1] Jones is a member of the Democratic Party, and was elected chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia on March 15, 2014.^[2]

Dwight Clinton Jones
79th Mayor of Richmond
In office January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2016
Preceded by	Douglas Wilder
Succeeded by	Levar Stoney
Chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia
In office March 15, 2014 – June 27, 2015
Preceded by	Charniele Herring
Succeeded by	Susan Swecker
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 70th district
In office January 12, 1994 – January 1, 2009
Preceded by	Lawrence D. Wilder Jr.
Succeeded by	Delores McQuinn
Personal details
Born	Dwight Clinton Jones (1948-02-03) February 3, 1948 (age 77) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Children	3
Residence	Richmond, Virginia
Alma mater	Virginia Union University United Theological Seminary
Profession	Minister

Background and personal life

Jones was born in Philadelphia and moved to Richmond, Virginia after attending Virginia Union University, which awarded him Master of Divinity degree (1973), and earlier a Bachelor of Science degree (1970). He earned his Doctorate from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He is married and has three children, Dwight, Derik, and Nichole.^[3]

Career

A Baptist, Jones is senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of South Richmond.

Political career

Jones served as a member of the Richmond City School Board in 1979, and as its chairman from 1982-1985. In 1993, Jones was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates (a part time position), and represented the 70th District (which included Richmond at the time) from 1994 until declining to seek re-election in 2008.^[4][5]

Mayor of Richmond

Jones took office as Richmond's 79th mayor on January 1, 2009.^[6] During his tenure, four new schools were built: Broad Rock Elementary Archived December 17, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary, Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School,^[7][8] and Huguenot High School Archived December 17, 2014, at the Wayback Machine which is the first high school built in the City of Richmond in 40 years.^[9][10]

Other new public works included a new fire station (Fire Station 17) completed in 2012, which was the first built by the City of Richmond in 18 years. It replaced a fire station built in 1917, which was designed for horse-drawn equipment.^[11][12] A new Richmond City Jail was also built, and opened in July 2014 under capacity.^[13] The replaced jail (built in the 1960s), had multiple overcrowding, maintenance and safety issues.^[14]

During his last year in office, several agencies investigated the relationship between Jones' church (building a new structure in Chesterfield County) and the Richmond Department of Public Works and other agencies, particularly as about 10% of city employees were members of his congregation,^[15] but after the election, Richmond's Commonwealth's Attorney, Mike Herring, issued a report detailing laxities but declining to prosecute.^[16] Immediately before leaving office, Jones authorized significant severance packages for four high-level appointees.^[17]