Peter Lawson Jones

Peter Lawson Jones
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 11th district
In office January 3, 1997-February 9, 2002
Preceded by	Jane Campbell
Succeeded by	Lance Mason
Personal details
Political party	Democratic

Peter Lawson Jones is an African American politician of the Democratic party. A resident of Shaker Heights, Ohio, he currently serves as a county commissioner in Cuyahoga County.

Jones served on the Shaker Heights city council, and in 1994, he was the running mate for gubernatorial candidate Rob Burch. He served as a state representative from 1997 to 2002. In February 2002, after county commissioner Jane Campbell was elected mayor of Cleveland, the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party appointed Jones to replace her on the commission.

He received his BA magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1975, and his juris doctor from Harvard in 1980. He has extensive professional and community affiliations, and works at the law firm Roetzel & Andress in addition to his legislative duties.

In 2007, Jones made news with two dissenting votes on major decisions. He opposed the sales tax increase for Cuyahoga County from 7.5% to 7.75%. The tax, earmarked to pay for a new convention center and medical mart, was passed by a 2-1 vote (Jimmy Dimora and Tim Hagan voted for it), and it took effect on October 1, 2007. Jones also opposed the demolition of the Ameritrust Tower, which the county bought as a potential location for a new administration building, but later decided to sell.

On January 26, 2009, WKYC's Tom Beres reported that Jones was considering running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Sen. George Voinovich. But withdrew from the idea and went onto endorse Lee Fisher in the primaries, and now in the general election.

See also:

• Cuyahoga County official biography
• Election Results, Ohio Lieutenant Governor
• Election Results, Ohio Lieutenant Governor (Democratic Primaries)
• Roetzel & Andress profile