Tim Jones (politician)

Timothy W. Jones (born May 25, 1971) was a Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives, representing the 110th district, which encompasses a portion of St. Louis County. Jones served as the House Majority Leader for the 96th General Assembly and as Speaker of the House from 2012-2015.[1] Jones is a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), serving as Missouri state leader.[2]

Tim Jones
Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives
In office
September 12, 2012 – January 7, 2015
Preceded byShane Schoeller (Acting)
Succeeded byJohn Diehl
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 110th district
In office
January 2007 – January 2015
Preceded byJack Jackson
Succeeded byKirk Matthews
Personal details
Born (1971-05-25) May 25, 1971
St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Suzanne Jones
Children2 daughters
Alma materFordham University
St. John's University
WebsiteOfficial website

Jones currently hosts The Tim Jones Show on KFTK-FM.[3]

Personal life

Tim Jones was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the son of JoAnn and Dr. William C. Jones, a U.S. Army veterinarian. The family moved to the Greater St. Louis area in 1972, where Tim spent his childhood. After graduating from St. Louis University High School in 1989, Jones attended Fordham University where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1993 with a double major in English and Russian Studies. Jones then attended St. John's University School of Law, where he received his juris doctorate in 1996.

When not involved with his legislative duties, Jones is employed as an attorney with the Saint Louis, Missouri based law firm of DosterUllom, LLC, where he focuses on business services and litigation, as well as civil and criminal litigation.

Jones resides in Eureka, Missouri with his wife, Suzanne, and their two daughters. They attend the Most Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Eureka, where Jones is a past president of the church's Parish Council. His first cousin Caleb Jones also serves in the House and his uncle Kenny Jones is a former State Representative and former Moniteau County Sheriff.[4]

Additionally, Jones is a member of many local civic organizations in the West St. Louis County region including the West St. Louis County Lions Club, the Eureka Historical Society, the Eureka Library Project, the Family Enrichment Resource Program, and the Eureka and Chesterfield Chambers of Commerce; he is involved in the Rockwood School District Partners in Education and in the Missouri Bar Continuing Legal Education program, where he is a frequent lecturer and published author.[5][6]

Political career

In 2006, Tim Jones announced his candidacy to replace the outgoing Jack Jackson in the Missouri House of Representatives. Jones garnered 53% of the vote in a 3-way Republican primary race that August, and ran unopposed in the November general election. In 2008, Jones received the endorsement of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as he defeated Democrat George (Boots) Weber with over 72% of the vote. Tim Jones ran unopposed again in November 2010 to win his third term in the Missouri House.[7]

During the 2010 General Election, Jones and Speaker of the House Steve Tilley worked together with other Missouri Republicans to achieve a majority of 106 Republican House Members, the largest-ever Republican majority in the Missouri House of Representatives. The previous record was 103 during the 1929 and 1930 legislative sessions. In all, Republicans gained 17 seats in the election, defeating 10 Democratic incumbents and winning 7 seats previously held by retiring Democrats.[8]

In November 2010, fellow Republicans unanimously elected Jones as House Majority Floor Leader.[9] In September 2011, Jones was unanimously elected by the Missouri House Republican Caucus as "Speaker-Designate".[10] During the 2012 veto session, Jones was sworn in as Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives, and retained the office of speaker for the 2013 and 2014 legislative sessions.[11][12]

Jones was considered a probable candidate for Missouri statewide office in either 2014 (when he is term limited in the House) or in 2016. He considered running for numerous offices in 2016, including Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Secretary of State and the State Senate, but ultimately decided to "sit out" the 2016 elections. He will instead be "keeping all options open for 2018 and beyond" and in the interim became a senior policy fellow at Lindenwood University's John W. Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise.[13][4][14][15]

Participation in "Birther" lawsuit

In 2009, Jones was one of several Republican politicians to join as a plaintiff in a Birther lawsuit by attorney/dentist Orly Taitz against President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Michelle Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. The lawsuit alleged that President Obama is not the lawful Commander in Chief, based on the allegation that he is not a "natural born citizen", although he was born in Hawaii.[16] However, the lawsuit was dismissed on October 29, 2009 by Federal Judge David Carter.[17][18]

Legislative assignments

In addition to his post as Speaker of the Missouri House, Rep. Jones served on the following committees:[1]

  • Ex officio member, all committees of the House
  • Joint Committee on Legislative Research
2008 General Election for Missouri’s 89th District House of Representatives[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Tim Jones 14,247 72.6 Winner
Democratic George (Boots) Weber 5,370 27.4
2006 Primary Election for Missouri’s 89th District House of Representatives[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Tim Jones 1,408 53.0 Winner
Republican Stephen (Steve) Banton 1,159 43.6
Republican Scott Dickenson 92 3.5

References
  1. "Member Listing". Missouri House of Representatives. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  2. "State Chairs - ALEC - American Legislative Exchange Council". ALEC. Retrieved 2013-11-29.
  3. "The Tim Jones Show". FM NewsTalk 97.1. Entercom. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  4. "Tim Jones Won't Seek Statewide Office In 2016". St. Louis Public Radio. November 6, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  5. "Member Biography". Missouri House of Representatives. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  6. "About Tim Jones". Citizens for Timothy W. Jones. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  7. "Missouri 2010 Election Reporting". Missouri Secretary of State. 2010-11-03. Retrieved 2011-04-26.
  8. "Missouri House Speaker Steve Tilley Resigns". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 2012-08-14. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  9. "Rep. Tim Jones Elected Incoming House Majority Floor Leader". Missouri House Communications (retrieved via Missives from Missouri). 2010-11-03. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  10. "Eurekan Tim Jones Will Be Speaker of the House". Eureka-Wildwood Patch. 2011-09-09. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  11. "Rep. Tim Jones Elected Speaker of the House". Missouri House Communications. 2012-09-12. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  12. "Welcome Mr. Speaker". The St. Louis Business Journal. 2012-09-14. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  13. "'It could get bloody' — Experts forecast 2016 Missouri election". Springfield News-Leader. November 9, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  14. "Missouri House speaker won't seek office in 2016". The State. November 6, 2014. Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  15. "Tim Jones: will not run for statewide office in 2016". MissouriNet. November 6, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  16. "Brutal Ruling Quashes Birthers' Lawsuit". Politico.com. October 29, 2009. Retrieved 2011-04-26.
  17. "Judicial Decision, October 29, 2009" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-11-29.
  18. Celock, John (11 February 2013). "Tim Jones, Missouri House Speaker, Cites Birther Connection In Fundraising Letter". Huffington Post. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  19. "Missouri Secretary of State Election Archives-November 4, 2008 General Election-District 89-Retrieved March 29, 2009". Retrieved 2013-11-29.
  20. "Missouri Secretary of State Election Archives-August 8, 2006 Primary Election-District 89-Retrieved March 29, 2009". Retrieved 2013-11-29.
Political offices
Preceded by
Shane Schoeller
Acting		 Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives
2012–2015		 Succeeded by
John Diehl
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