U Magazine, Fall 1987

Holt, J ones says, pushed him to apply for a fellowship program sponsored by the American Economic Association. In the summer of 1976 J ones was one of 35 students chosen from throughout the nation to study economics at North– western University. On the job, J ones was mastering even higher levels of finance . He and Williams were instrumental in establishing the Southeast Econom ic Development Corporation (SEDC), a city-sponsored, non-profit corpora– tion created to improve the economi c climate of the community, as well as working on public transit, flood protection and the development of police facilities. After IO years as Williams' aide, J ones knew the di strict as well as hi s boss. So in 1982 when Williams vacated his seat and moved on to the county board of supervisors, the city council voted unanimously to appoint J ones to take Williams' council seat. At age 27, just two years out of college, Jones became the youngest city council member of a major American city. After he completed Williams' term Jones was elected to a full four-year term in a city-wide election in December, 19 83. Despite his youthful looks, J ones has the serious, reflective demeanor of someone who accepted heavy responsibility early in life; he seems much older than his age. During his years on the council J ones has fought agai nst the drugs and gangs that plague his district. He has tried to instill a sense of pride in the commu– nity by initiating Project First Class. As part of this community revitaliza– tion program, whenever a resident noticed something, a building or a city service that wasn't first class, they were asked to report it. Jones and hi s office handled 10,000 reported problems . Jones also pushed for a variety of youth projects involving urban conservation, landscapi ng and community health. But he says, it was a struggle getting these programs accepted by city hall. "Then I realized I didn't have to do it through city hall, that I could utilize the private sector. I suppose

Project I Believe was partly born out of my struggles to get city hall to reach out to the youth community. "I believe that government should reach out to young people . I believe that government should involve young people in the decision-making process at an early age, even though they are not voters, even though they cannot muster the campaign dollars or put pressure on government." Jones hopes the students at Kennedy will have the same ri ch college experience he did. "They will have all the opportunities they need to grow up and be successful," he vows. "We will basically expand their horizons so that they understand that there is a large world out there full of opportunities ." As for hi s own future, Jones remains vague. After graduat ion, he would like to come back to San Diego and contribute to the business community. He also hasn't ruled out furthering his political career. He knows the world is full of oppor– tunities. And wise mentors. D C!are White is a San Diego-basedfree lance writer.

"There are many children who have talent, and if they start at an early age and be the best inside and outside of class, they may have an opportunity to perhaps become a city council– man or a lawyer or a doctor or a nurse or a teacher. But they need to believe in themselves."