Burt Jones wants your vote for Lt. Governor

A sixth-generation native of Jackson and the Middle Georgia area, Burt Jones is hoping to secure the nomination for lieutenant governor following the May 24 primaries.

While working with his family business, Jones Petroleum, he has also served as a senator for the 25th District of Georgia for around a decade now.

“I ran for State Senate and got elected in 2012 when I was about 32 years old and served in legislature for 10 years now,” Jones said. “[I’ve been] seeing what does work and what doesn’t work, and the lieutenant governor position became available — and I’m trying to throw my name in the hat for that.”

He said he is a fiscally sound, conservative-minded supporter of small businesses.

“Number one: I want to move towards getting rid of our state income tax,” Jones said. “I think over the decade, we’ve given out a lot of tax credits and tax incentives to big corporations; I think we ought to do more for small businesses and families by trying to eliminate the state income tax.”

He said he wanted to place more funding into the K-12 education system, helping to prepare students for a brighter future and be offered more options other than a standard-issue 4-year college plan.

“I think we ought to concentrate on school vouchers, the school choice issue,” Jones said. “But also, I think we should also get more into the skill-based teaching — as far as like with our college and career academies, teaching a skill set to those who are not going to be college bound. We ought to be teaching them something they can take with them and potentially get a job right out of high school with.”

The community and political representatives should stand with law enforcement officers, he said.

“I think we need to do more to help recruit and retain men and women in law enforcement, and I also think we oughta hold D.A.s accountable that don’t prosecute criminal activity,” Jones added.

He said he believed that confidence should be brought back to the election process.

“That means totally getting rid of drop-boxes, ‘no excuse’ absentee ballots and have people make sure that every legal vote is counted and every illegal vote is thrown out,” he explained.

If voted into the role, he said he would first look to tackle the state income tax and improve the K-12 education system, but statewide transportation issues and access to healthcare would also urgently require his attention.

When asked what makes him stand out among his other competition for the lieutenant governor position, he said he is the “most consistent conservative in the race,” and he has proven leadership experience in his time with the football team at the University of Georgia along with creating companies that provide jobs and opportunities.

“I’ve always been outspoken, and even when it means going against your own party,” he said. “I’ve always tried to represent the people that put me there.”

During his tenure with the State Senate, he has served with the following committees: Banking and Financial Institutions, Higher Education, chair of Insurance and Labor, Transportation, Senate Appropriations, secretary of Senate Rules, Finance, vice chair of State Institutions and Property, Regulated Industries and Utilities as well as Government Oversight.

When asked about his personal life and hobbies, he said he loves spending time with his family.

“My kids are all in sports, and I enjoy playing sports with them,” Jones said. “Of course a lot of that includes fishing and playing on the lake, water skiing — things of that nature.”

Jones was a history major at the University of Georgia, a walk-on with the football team and a team captain for Coach Mark Richt’s first conference championship squad.

Jones’ wife is named Jan, and they have two children: Stella and Banks. The Joneses are active members of Rock Springs Church in Milner.

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