born october african american democratic politician state georgia jones served chief executive officer georgia ceo jones presided oversaw employee county workforce managed billion county operating budget unsuccessfully ran senate early life business career born north_carolina jones grew farm rural north_carolina father veteran world war worked mill mother siblings worked family farm jones fifth children brothers sister attended durham member alpha psi fraternity graduating business administration jones graduate harvard executive program jones began career telecommunications industry working later team established wireless communications jones served political career political positions senate campaign jones described conservative democrat favors tough immigration laws fiscal responsibility supporter gun rights staunch environmental advocate campaign stated opposed sex marriage rated jones moderate conservative jones stated voted supported barack_obama jones donated separate donations press release jones characterized advocate limited government security citizens balanced ethical efficient elections job creation jones elected representing succeeding jones served time member special jones chaired chairman proposals jones sponsored sponsored bill remove confederate battle flag emblem flag bill banned minors purchasing music explicit lyrics jones stand reelection instead running ceo succeeded ron sailor ceo elected chief executive officer georgia winning vote elected vote jones african american serve ceo county youngest elected county april shortly jones ceo voted offer life health insurance benefits domestic partners gay unmarried county employees county georgia offer benefits administration established local jones approved creation new senior center increased funding roads libraries park improvements maintaining balanced budget increasing county credit rating aaa ceo jones promoted achieved passage million bond referendum allowed acquisition acre expansion green space increasing county parks green space requested received congressional designation jones primarily responsible creation economic development department generated billion new investments jones term ceo known controversies accusations shortly taking office jones went campaign pledge homestead exemption sales tax place jones criticized pay raises police officers january sanctioned jones campaign contribution limit violations reelection campaign consent order jones returned excess contributions personally paid civil penalty jones apologized stated changes campaign finance laws initial election run election reason acceptance nineteen improper campaign contributions accused illegally campaign funds promote bond referendum found reasonable grounds complaint jones accused excessive spending questionable real estate transactions sued racial discrimination controversies section united_states senate campaign jones ran senate defeated run georgia democratic senate primary march jones announced running united states senate incumbent republican jones criticized chief rival conservative politics past support jones campaign marred new controversies jones sent appeared digitally altered picture democratic presidential candidate barack_obama words yes obama stated posed jones endorse jones candidate democratic nomination senate response jones blamed liberal opponents backed liberal media trying ruin campaign jones received criticism appearance tagline vote jones tickets produced county funds jazz festival company printed tickets supporters jones campaign took responsibility incident saying unaware campaign finance laws action illegal july democratic primary election jones won votes democratic primary georgia law requires majority majority reached candidate vote face runoff august jones lost run election margin points jones unexpectedly lost martin home base jones lost support black community runoff election captured thirds black vote head head match martin black turnout run substantially lower initial primary election hurting chances runoff unsuccessful races jones launched unsuccessful campaign representing fourth congressional district jones ran unsuccessfully defeated incumbent sheriff controversies official spending real estate grand found jones year funded security detail excessive recommended decreased found violations law jones accused questionable real estate transaction involving house acre tract land near purchased anticipation active quarry county green space project initiated summer jones sold site profit january special purpose grand jury investigate corruption found widespread incompetence patronage fraud dating beginning administration report released august recommended investigations possible illegal acts jones number current senior officials accusations racial discrimination august senior current employees director deputy director assistant director deputy director filed suit ceo county jones subordinates alleging racial discrimination case retaliation refusing assist racial discrimination kelly drake white african american attorneys defendants moved summary judgment grounds qualified immunity state officials november judge rejected summary judgment petition holding law allow public official defendant engage calculated racial discrimination racially neutral administrative actions qualified immunity defense november ruled case forward jury trial jones fellow defendants appealed denial summary judgement motion july upheld judge rejection defendants motion summary judgment grounds qualified immunity judge writing court stated ruling georgia embarked wholesale plan replace white county managers african americans devised plan monitored execution march case finally heard jury trial attorneys called witnesses county government attempt demonstrate policy discrimination jones denied discrimination white employees testified wanted best meant blacks whites republicans democrats gay straight anybody wanted work wanted everybody seat table testimony revealed years jones term office number white senior county managers dropped number african american senior county managers risen seven days testimony april jury awarded damages died trial found jones executive assistant parks director liable damages million requested found liable racial discrimination jury rejected claims jones held created maintained hostile work environment jones ordered personally pay damages liability insurance policy employees covered award personally assessed jones jones attorneys initially hailed verdict victory county relatively low damages award judge awarded additional million legal fees ultimately agreed pay total million legal fees damages april post trial settlement involvement jones accused lawsuit brought money million green space bond sale purchase church building million sum claimed excess land actual value county use property building later leased start cable network token sum dollar year ensuing court case alleged questionable relationship arranged sexual encounter jones deposed jones refused answer questions relating incident number questions involving dealings case ultimately withdrawn attorney felt judge case biased client case subsequently drew different judge
Vernon Jones