Garland’s first Black mayor in second term

By TONY BROWN FAIRE
The Dallas Examiner

On June 16, 2007 the citizens of Garland made history by electing its first African American mayor. Mayor Ronald Jones is now serving his second term as mayor in the 10th largest city in Texas and the 83rd largest in the United States, with a population of 215,768 people, according to the 2000 census. According to the mayor, in his first bid for office he won the election with 54 percent of the vote; however, in this last election, he won with a landslide victory of 83.17 percent of the vote.

When asked if race was a factor in the election, he stated “many people tried to make it an issue, but I focused on my qualifications”. Jones was in city government for 29 years before he was elected mayor. He worked as an Assistant City Manager. Part of his job during his tenure as Assistant City Manager was to train new city council members on parliamentary procedure so that the government could operate smoothly.

Garland, under the leadership of the Mayor, was named the 67th best city to live in the United States by CNN Money Magazine. “That was quite an honor,” said Jones, who stated his platform when he ran for office was for “Garland to become the city of choice.”

He boasts quite a track record during his time in office in terms of economic development. “40 new businesses have located in Garland despite, a down turn in the economy,” says Jones. The Eastern Extension George Bush Freeway /Highway 190 has also been a major concern of the mayor. He says it is vital to Garland’s business development and is scheduled to be completed by November 2011. According to the Mayor the extension of the freeway will help Garland by bringing in new business which is vital to Garland’s tax base as it will keep the city from raising taxes.

Jones is also happy to announce that as of 2007, the city of Garland has gone green. This environmental protection program helps decrease Garland’s carbon foot print and lowers harmful emissions into the air. Many of the city’s vehicles are now hybrids that help keep the environment clean and safe. He says that because of certain needs, that police and emergency vehicles have not gone green, but he hopes that one day in the future, all of the city’s vehicles will be hybrids. The city also has a Leadership Energy Environmental Design building that is an environmentally friendly building that houses the city of Garland’s Power and Light Administration. Garland also owns its own electric company and has four generation plants, says the Mayor.

Additionally, Jones has worked to pass key ordinances in Garland. Garland also passed a Diversity Resolution that recognizes their diverse population. He also stated that Garland passed a tougher sex offender law that made it illegal for sex offenders to gather anywhere children in Garland gather. This law was passed unanimously. Garland also accomplished a feat that even the federal government could not do and that was to pass their budget unanimously. While accomplishing so much in Garland, Jones was also elected to the office of President of the Metroplex Mayor’s Association, which is an association of Mayors within the DFW metroplex. He will assume the post September 2010.

Yet with this busy schedule, he still takes time out for his constituents. Jones holds a “Mayor’s Evening In” every third Thursday of each month from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. so that anyone who wants to see him for whatever reason can. He also takes his forum to the public once a quarter at different locations in Garland that can seat at least 100 people. “This is a public system and public forum” says Jones.

“Public safety is my number one priority,” says Jones. Garland, according to the Mayor is ready for the emergencies they may face as a community. As a matter of fact, Garland currently trains personnel in 19 counties in First Responder’s training.

Mayor Jones is excited about his opportunity to continue to serve the citizens of Garland and says his primary aim is, “To continue economic development and neighborhood stabilization and to keep Garland as a ‘Top 100 Cities’ to live in.” And this busy mayor is well on his way toward achieving these goals.

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