Daryl Jones
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Daryl Jones (1955 - ), is a politician from Miami, Florida, USA. Jones was born in Jackson, Mississippi. Both parents were high school teachers.
Contents |
[edit] Early years
Jones attended Lanier High School where he was valedictorian. In 1972 Jones was voted president of the state student council convention. Jones would go on to attend the United States Air Force Academy where he graduated with honors and a degree in mathematics. He is the first African-American graduate of the academy from Mississippi.
[edit] Military career
Jones became an F-16 fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. He was also Mission Commander and Flight Leader an earned the rank of captain. He moved to Florida in 1981 stationed at Homestead Air Force Base where he earned his law degree from the University of Miami. At the same time, Jones moved to USAF reservist status. He rose to the rank of colonel as a reservist.
[edit] Political career
From 1990-1992 he served in the Florida House of Representatives from Miami. From 1992-2002 he served in the Florida Senate where he was Democratic Senate President Designate and was Chairman or Vice-Chairman of six different committees.
In 1998 he was President Bill Clinton's choice to be Secretary of the Air Force. On Tuesday, July 21, 1998, Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen was asked: "What's your sense of the Secretary of the Air Force-designate Daryl Jones nomination which comes up tomorrow in the Senate Armed Services Committee? Do you think it will actually sail or not?"
"I don't know. It's a very closely contested vote at this point. I thought the hearing invited both proponents and opponents; very clearly there were some strong opponents, but strong proponents. I think it's too early to tell whether or not it will have the support of the Senate Armed Services Committee." --William S. Cohen
His appointment never made it to the Senate floor after the Armed Services Committee deadlocked at 9-9 on July 23rd. Senator Strom Thurmond was the only Republican to support Jones. One detractor was Senator John McCain.
In 2002 Jones was the first African-American to run for governor of Florida, receiving 11.6% of the vote and placing third in the Democratic primary behind Bill McBride and Janet Reno.
On September 14, 2006, he was chosen as a nominee for the position of lieutenant governor by gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis. He is the second African-American nominee for Florida lieutenant governor. The first was Republican David Montgomery in 1876, a black Civil War veteran chosen by Governor Marcellus Lovejoy Stearns.
Jones could be a possible successor to Alcee Hastings in Congress at some point in time.
[edit] Personal
Jones currently resides in Miami with his wife and three children. Jones met his wife while on assignment to the Philippines. He has spent the past several years running his own real estate investment and consulting firm, D.L. Jones & Associates.
[edit] Sources
- Jim Davis for Governor [1]
- Palm Beach Post
- Canter Brown, historian and author of Florida's Black Public Officials 1867-1924
- News net, University of Wisconsin
- American Forces Information Service
 |
This article about a Florida politician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
