Source: Black Virginia News
At 33, Phillip Jones will be among the youngest Mayors in the United States when he takes office in eight days. Jones will be sworn in on Jan. 10 at 11 a.m. in Newport News. He will be the city’s 27th Mayor, succeeding McKinley Price, 73, who took office in July of 2010.
On Nov. 8, Jones won a competitive mayor’s race in Newport News against several known elect officials who were members of the Newport News City Council. Few were able to predict what the outcome would be, but Jones came out on top as the decisive victor.
Even though he is only 33, Jones, a management consultant, has advised businesses on strategic planning, marketing and their inter-connected operational goals. Even before taking office, Jones’ resume is one of the most impressive in Virginia politics.
Harvard Business School graduate Phil Jones will be Mayor of Newport News in eight days.
Jones graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and earned joint degrees from the Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Jones has also served on the Newport News Planning Commission. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy as a Burke Scholar. Jones then served for six years on active duty as a U.S. Marine infantry officer.
Jones’ has said that his priorities as Mayor include school funding, public safety with a focus on mental health services and generally a more innovative approach to government. Jones says he will appoint a chief innovation officer as Mayor.
