I read with interest the story in one of our local media outlets, regarding the No on O and P campaigns and their “quarterback” Chris Jones. Chris Jones is a paid political consultant based in Placer County.
Now, carpetbagger Jones” fearmongering tactics are in our mailboxes urging people to vote No on Measures O and P, and not surprisingly given his history, the “hit piece” is full of inaccuracies and innuendo. So, just who is consultant Chris Jones?
Early in his political career, Jones was chief of staff to indicted California Sen. John R. Lewis, of Orange County.
Once Lewis left office, they started their own consulting shop.
The Los Angeles Times reported in 1998 that Jones and Lewis sent out a couple of trashy mailers that accused their candidate”s opponent of being a child molester. In the words of LA Times reporter,Peter Warren, writing at that time, “the low road, however, remains well traveled because it sometimes leads to victory. And that gives ethics a severe test when critical decisions are made by novice candidates under fierce pressure.” The complaints by the Republican candidates finally drove Jones out of Orange County. He took his show on the road to San Bernardino County.
In 2010, he represented Paul Baine, a San Bernardino County supervisor, in a reelection bid. The candidate was under indictment. Earlier, he consulted for a Grand Terrace City councilwoman, Bea Cortes, who was investigated for her distribution of campaign funds. In 2011 he represented a candidate for San Bernardino County Supervisor, Neal Derry, who later pled guilty to money laundering. Then, he went on to represent a San Bernardino City Council candidate, Robert Jenkins, who, in April of 2014 was charged with 31 felony and misdemeanor counts.
So there you have it Lake County. A dishonest campaign based on scare tactics, here in our county, being run by an out of county consultant with the record of working for some of the least ethical political figures in local California politics, bringing his bottom feeder tactics into our homes.
Lake County voters would be advised to judge carefully any campaign desperate enough to attach itself to Chris Jones.
Becky Curry, Kelseyville
