Shannon Jones

A graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Jones worked as chief of staff for Congressman Steve Chabot, as a regional representative for then State Treasurer Joe Deters, and as a district director for U.S. Senator Mike DeWine. She also served as the Executive Director of the Hamilton County Republican Party and as the campaign manager on the Congressional campaigns of Chabot and Mike Turner.

When incumbent Tom Raga was tapped by Ken Blackwell to run for Lieutenant Governor, Jones was mentioned as a potential replacement for his seat in the Ohio House of Representatives, and she eventually declared her candidacy. In the heavily Republican district, Jones won easily in 2006, and reelection in 2008. She served as House Assistant Majority Whip for the 127th General Assembly.

Bob Schuler, who had held the 7th Senate District since 2003, was unable to run again in 2010. Jones and former Representative Michelle Schneider both sought to replace him. However, Schuler died in June 2009, almost a year before the 2010 primary.{{cite news | first = Anthony | last = Shoemaker | title = Local state Senator dies | date = 2009-06-20 | url = http://www.journal-news.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/ohiopolitics/entries/2009/06/20/local_state_senator_dies.html | work = Dayton Daily News | accessdate = 2011-03-26 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110622005631/http://www.journal-news.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/ohiopolitics/entries/2009/06/20/local_state_senator_dies.html | archivedate = 2011-06-22 }} In August 2019, state Senate Republicans appointed Jones to fill the vacant Senate seat for the rest of the term.[http://archives.legislature.state.oh.us/JournalText128/SJ-08-11-09.pdf S. R. No. 93-Senator Niehaus: Relative to the appointment of Shannon Jones to fill the vacancy in the membership of the Senate for the 7th Senatorial District], Ohio Senate Journal (August 11, 2019). Ohio Senate District 7 is a heavily Republican county, composed mostly of Warren County with some parts in Hamilton and Butler counties.Lawrence Budd, [https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local-govt--politics/sponsor-now-unopposed-november/QBKWUwrCOhN5rjzMTBNNkK/ S.B. 5 sponsor now unopposed in November: Democrats, labor unable to field candidate to challenge Shannon Jones], Dayton Daily News'' (September 7, 2014). In the May 2010 Republican primary, Jones won the nomination with 23,316 votes (61%), defeating Schneider, who received 14,986 votes (39%).[https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/election-results-and-data/2010-elections-results/state-senate---republican-may-4-2010/ Official Results: State Senate - Republican: May 4, 2010], Ohio Secretary of State. In the November 2010 general election, Jones won with 71.85% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Sam Pettinichi, who received 28.15% of the vote.[https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/election-results-and-data/2010-elections-results/ohio-senate-november-2-2010/ Official Results: Ohio Senate - November 2, 2010], Ohio Secretary of State. She won re-election unopposed in 2014 after the Democratic candidate withdrew from the race.[https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/election-results-and-data/2014-elections-results/ 2014 Election Results: Official Statewide Results], Ohio Secretary of State.

For the 128th General Assembly, Jones was appointed Vice Chair of the Ways and Means and Economic Development Committee. She was also a member of the Insurance, Commerce and Labor, Government Oversight, and Health, Human Services and Aging Committee. She was also appointed to the newly formed, six-member Budget and Planning Commission.

For the 129th General Assembly, the Ohio Senate Republican Caucus chose Jones to serve as the Senate majority whip.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110716194941/http://www.tcnewsnet.com/main.asp?SectionID=17&SubSectionID=262&ArticleID=155285&TM=44354.04 Shannon Jones selected to serve as Majority Whip] Senate President Tom Niehaus also named Jones as a member of the Senate Rules and Reference Committee; Energy and Public Utilities Committee; Finance Committee (Vice Chair); Health, Human Services and Aging; and Insurance, Commerce and Labor.{{cite news | first = William | last = Hershey | title = Area state lawmakers take leadership spots | date = 2011-01-16 | url = http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/areas-state-lawmakers-take-leadership-spots-1055779.html?cxtype=rss_ece_frontpage | work = Dayton Daily News | accessdate = 2011-03-26}} She also served as a member of the Controlling Board; the Joint Legislative Committee for Unified Long-Term Services and Supports; the Legislative Service Commission; and the Warren County Transportation Improvement District.{{Cite web|url=http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/ohiopolitics/entries/2011/01/27/widener_lehner_named_senate_co.html?cxtype=feedbot|title=Jones named vice chair|accessdate=Aug 25, 2020}}

Jones introduced SB 5 in 2011, a bill that limited collective bargaining for Ohio state employees, such as public schoolteachers, police officers, firefighters, and prison guards.[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703905404576164722763221988 The Unlikely Ohio Legislator at Center of Labor Fight], Wall Street Journal (February 25, 2011).Laura A. Bischoff, [https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/collective-bargaining-bill-passes-ohio-senate/WaDZsrbRgk4sGLMqHoWqaN/ Collective bargaining bill passes Ohio Senate], Dayton Daily News (2011). The bill was backed by the conservative advocacy group Americans for Prosperity.[http://americansforprosperity.org/ohio/legislativealerts/021011-afp-oh-commends-senator-shannon-jones-tackling-major-are-reform/ "AFP-OH COMMENDS SENATOR SHANNON JONES FOR TACKLING MAJOR ARE OF REFORM"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130715173009/http://americansforprosperity.org/ohio/legislativealerts/021011-afp-oh-commends-senator-shannon-jones-tackling-major-are-reform/ |date=2013-07-15 }}, Americans for Prosperity website, February 10, 2011 (Retrieved July 9, 2013) It passed the Ohio Senate on a 17–16 vote. The bill was signed into law by Republican Governor John Kasich, but was staunchly opposed by state employees' unions, and was overwhelmingly repealed by voters in Issue 2, a veto referendum.[https://www.cleveland.com/politics/2011/11/ohio_voters_overwhelmingly_rej.html Ohio voters overwhelmingly reject Issue 2, dealing a blow to Gov. John Kasich], The Plain Dealer (November 9, 2011).

Jones was also known as the primary sponsor of Ohio legislation that requires young children to be properly restrained in a booster seat when riding in cars; that legislation went into effect in 2009.[https://timesbulletin.com/Content/News/News/Article/Ohio-to-require-car-booster-seats-for-kids-Oct--7/2/4/154719 Ohio to require car booster seats for kids Oct. 7], Associated Press (September 29, 2009).

Jones sponsored legislation to reduce Ohio's high infant mortality rate, specifically Senate Bill 332, which passed the state Senate in 2016 on a 29–1 vote.{{Cite web|url=https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA131-SB-332|title=Senate Bill 332|publisher=Ohio Legislature|website=www.legislature.ohio.gov|accessdate=Aug 25, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/2016/09/ohio_senate_passes_infant_mort.html|title=Ohio Senate passes infant mortality bill|first=Brie|last=Zeltner|date=Sep 29, 2016|website=Plain Dealer|access-date=August 25, 2020}} She co-chaired the 15-member Ohio Commission on Infant Mortality.Wayne Baker, [https://www.journal-news.com/news/local/ohio-agency-makes-recommendation-infant-mortality-rates/bMqRq0kcjBmacRwhRDGkxI/ Ohio agency makes recommendation on infant mortality rates], Journal News (August 16, 2016).

Jones supported John Kasich's campaign for the 2016 Republican nomination for President.Karen Kasler, [https://www.wksu.org/government-politics/2016-06-10/two-kasich-delegates-will-skip-the-republican-convention Two Kasich Delegates Will Skip the Republican Convention], WKSU (June 10, 2016). After Donald Trump became the presumptive Republican nominee, then-State Senator Jones resigned as a delegate to the Ohio State Republican Convention rather than back Trump, explaining that her fundamental values precluded her from supporting TrumpJessica Wehrman, [https://www.dispatch.com/article/20160609/NEWS/306099844 With Trump as presumptive nominee, state senator resigns as GOP delegate], Columbus Dispatch (June 9, 2016). and calling herself as a "conscientious objector" to Trump's nomination. She also opposed Trump's 2020 re-election campaign.[https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/columnists/politics-extra/2020/09/14/never-trump-after-skipping-2016-convention-republican-has-no-regrets/5790000002/ Never Trump: After skipping GOP convention, here's how Greater Cincinnati Republican now feels about Donald Trump], Cincinnati Enquirer (September 14, 2020).

In December 2015, Jones announced her intent to run for a county commission seat in Warren County, leaving her state Senate seat.Laura Bischoff [https://www.daytondailynews.com/blog/ohio-politics/state-sen-jones-run-for-warren-county-commission/0MVlMx9UT588lT8BxwhXqI/ State Sen. Jones to run for Warren County Commission], Dayton Daily News (December 3, 2015). Jones was succeeded in her Senate seat by Steve Wilson. She won election to the county commission in 2016 and resigned her Senate seat with two years left in her term.Dave Ghose, [https://www.columbusmonthly.com/content/stories/2016/10/the-agony-and-ecstasy.html Shannon Jones: The Agony and Ecstasy], Columbus Monthly (October 25, 2016). The county is Republican-dominated. She won reelection in 2020, and was unopposed in both the primary and the general election.Lawrence Budd, [https://www.journal-news.com/news/warren-county-commissioner-looks-ahead-to-5th-term/GN4XWKOVX5H7VMKWBHW6L526ZA/ Warren County commissioner looks ahead to 5th term], Journal-News (November 4, 2020).

In 2017, Shannon became executive director of Groundwork Ohio, a nonprofit advocacy organization in Columbus, Ohio that advocates for children. In June 2024, she left that position, transitioning to a strategic advisory role through the end of the 2024.

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Category:Living people

Category:Women state legislators in Ohio

Category:Republican Party Ohio state senators

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Category:1970 births

Category:People from Springboro, Ohio

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