Ella Jones | |
|---|---|
| 12th Mayor of Ferguson | |
| Assumed office June 17, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | James Knowles III |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Missouri–St. Louis (BA) |
Ella Jones (born 1955) is an American chromatographer,pastor,and politician who serves as the 12th mayor of Ferguson,Missouri. A former member of the Ferguson City Council,Jones is the first African-American and woman elected mayor of the city. [1] [2]
Jones earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry from the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
Prior to entering politics,Jones was a high-pressure liquid chromatographer. She worked at the Washington University School of Medicine and KV Pharmaceutical before becoming a sales director with Mary Kay. In April 2015,Jones was the first African-American elected to the Ferguson City Council,where she represented the city's first ward. [3] In February 2020,Jones was selected to serve on the United States Environmental Protection Agency Local Government Advisory Committee. [4]
In the 2017 municipal election,Jones ran for mayor,receiving 42.77% of the vote. It was the city's first election after the shooting of Michael Brown and subsequent Ferguson unrest. [5]
In the June 2,2020,mayoral election,Jones defeated fellow council member Heather Robinett. Jones succeeded incumbent James Knowles III,a Republican who was unable to seek re-election due to term limits. [6] [7] On June 17,2020,Jones was sworn in as the first black and female mayor of Ferguson. [8] [9]
She is also a pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. [2]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ella Jones | 1,504 | 53.9% | |
| Democratic | Heather Robinett | 1,286 | 46.1% | |
Jones moved to Ferguson,Missouri with her husband,Tim. Tim Jones died in 2013. [11] Jones has one daughter. [2]