Sam Jones (mayor)

Samuel Leon Jones is an American politician who was elected as and served as the mayor of Mobile, Alabama from September 2005 until August 2013. He is Mobile's first African-American mayor. He ran on a platform of safety, efficient government, historic preservation and bringing new employers to the city.

Jones is a graduate of Central High School and attended Florida Junior College and Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida.

Jones served for nine years in the United States Navy, where he served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal. While he was in the military, his commanding officer was John McCain, future senator from Arizona and presidential candidate.

After leaving the Navy, Jones worked as the executive director of Mobile Community Action, Inc. from 1980 until 1987. He got involved in politics through the Democratic Party and was elected to four terms as a Mobile County Commissioner.

In September 2005 he ran for Mayor of Mobile and was elected. He served two four-year terms, winning re-election in 2009. His terms in office were marked by financial mismanagement. Under his leadership, the City's bond obligation increased by almost $150 million dollars thus in effect doubling the City debt. Jones routinely pulled money from the capital improvement fund to cover expenses in the general fund. By the time his term was over, he move $247 million out of the capital fund to the general fund. Reports now show that during one of those years, the Jones administration spent nothing on capital improvements. As a result, the city was left with a backlog of capital improvement needs costing close to $300 million.

On August 27, 2013, Jones conceded to Sandy Stimpson in the 2013 mayoral election.

On October 29, 2013, the Mobile City Council unanimously voted to pass a resolution to rename Mobile Government Plaza as the Samuel L. Jones Government Plaza for his service to the city. Official renaming of the building is pending approval by the Mobile County Commission.