By: Joseph M. Morgan
Editor and Publisher
COLLINSVILLE, Ala.—Collinsville High School (CHS) educator Donna G. Jones recently announced her intent to run for the Collinsville City Council, District 2.
Mrs. Jones, a teacher at CHS for the past 24 years, will face incumbent Councilman Fred Shankles on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016 in the only contested municipal race in Collinsville. (see Southern Torch next week for a candidate bio of Fred Shankles).
“I believe we are at the forefront of one of the greatest times in American history.” Jones said. “Our nation is entering an exciting new era, and I want to see Collinsville do the same. You ask why I chose to run? I say, how could I have chosen not to run.”
Jones said she is committed to representing the interests and needs of those who live in Council District 2 and to the community as a whole.
“I am ready to go to work for District 2,” Jones said, “I can promise that I will listen and hear the needs of my district and take those needs back to the council. I will work every day to make Collinsville a better place to live.
"I am a person of integrity and strong beliefs and I will stand up for our community. I’m approachable and ready to listen, and I don’t mind speaking up for what is right. I will work hard for those whom I represent, and I’m not afraid to fight for the needs of my constituents.”
While Jones is new to politics, she has decades of leadership experience in the classroom, and her involvement in numerous civic, school, church and other community projects, Jones is known for her tireless work-ethic and generous spirit.
Jones has served on the Collinsville Public Library Board of Directors for 14 years. She was among the original visionaries who established and executed the bold plan for securing, and completely restoring the historic building on Main Street that is now home to one of DeKalb County’s nicest public libraries.
Very active in her church, Collins Chapel UMC, Jones has served as the church’s financial secretary for more than 20 years. Her vision and determination led her to start the very first Collins Chapel UMC Vacation Bible School 12 years ago, a program that year-in and year-out hosts one of the best VBS programs in Collinsville.
Jones said she believes in the vitality of a thriving Main Street and downtown. She said if elected, revitalizing the charming downtown shops and preserving the city’s historic integrity will be a top priority for her. Jones said she will work to identify new restoration projects that might also be good financial investments for the town.
To date, the city has never significantly invested in, helped provide major funding or chosen to invest resources into the restoration of their own downtown or contributed to the completed and ongoing restorations. Jones said she hopes the city can invest in projects similar to the one to restore the historic building that now serves as the Collinsville Public Library or the ongoing work from the Collinsville Historical Association to restore the Cricket Theatre.
"Investing in the preservation of our history through the renovation of historic properties downtown and on Main Street could also have strong financial incentives," Jones said. "Not only would it create attractive, new city-owned commercial, retail or industrial spaces, it would attract new businesses that would increase tax revenues in Collinsville and generate additional city revenues through the rent, lease management or sale of any city-owned property.
Jones said that it is fiscal matters like these, or the lack thereof, that motivate her to make sure that if elected, she will make certain that citizens are fully aware of how the city’s finances are managed and demand that said decisions are made fairly and openly to ensure that citizens know how their tax dollars are being spent.
“Being good stewards of our finances and managing revenues and tax dollars in a transparent, open manner is incredibly important,” Jones said. “Our leaders are entrusted to utilize and manage the city’s revenues on behalf of the citizens and should be held accountable by those whom they serve. I want to see city funds disbursed more responsibly and wisely in a way that will benefit everyone in the community.”
Jones said in addition to investments on Main Street, she would like to see more activities for the youth of Collinsville. She said one way she would plan to make that happen is through improvements to the city’s parks and recreational areas, the addition of a splash pad, and to some, perhaps the most exciting and ambitious item on Jones entire agenda—the construction of a brand new, state of the art, municipal sports complex. If constructed it would represent the first new athletic complex in Collinsville since 1997 and 2000 when CHS built new baseball and softball fields at the high school. The town of Collinsville has not built a new sports facility since 1968.
“I’d like to see the development of a new sports complex,” Jones said. “I want to see more sporting activities for our youth and for all of our residents. If we improve our existing parks and recreational facilities and construct a new sports complex, we could host baseball and softball tournaments right here in Collinsville. Instead of sending ball teams to other cities to compete in tournaments, we could be bringing those teams to us and provide a constructive outlet for our youth.”
Jones also said that in addition to providing more recreational activities, she would delete also like to see the city work to provide more arts, music and other creative outlets for the people of Collinsville.
Jones has been married to Frank Jones for 24 years. Frank is a lifelong Collinsville resident who has worked at Vulcraft in Fort Payne, a division of Nucor Steel, as a welder for 31 years.
Frank and Donna have two sons, Leon and Dexter; and one daughter, Aryelle. All three have attended CHS and excelled as student-athletes. Leon and Dexter are proud CHS graduates and Alumnus. Aryelle, the youngest, will be a senior at Collinsville this fall. Jones said that making life better in Collinsville for her children and improving the town for future generations is the driving force that motivated her to run for office.
“My husband Frank and I are proud to have raised three very respectful, intelligent children,” Jones said. “We are proud of the young adults they have become and are still becoming. I want a better Collinsville and a better future for them and for their children years from now. I believe the best way to do that is to serve our city government in a leadership position.”
“Working as an educator at Collinsville High School for 24 years has allowed me to give back and impact our community by helping shape the minds of the young people that become the leaders of tomorrow,” Jones said. “I believe that if we all work together in city government, that if we take the time to listen to the voice of the people, we can form a shared vision. I would be honored to serve that role for the people of District 2.
On Aug. 23, for Collinsville City Council, District 2, Vote Donna Jones —"Your Voice, Our Vision.”
