Postal worker, military veteran, and lifelong Palmetto resident Sheldon Jones is seeking a second term as Palmetto City Commissioner At-Large. He is facing challenger Scott Whitaker on November 5.
Jones’ background includes experience as a small business owner, military veteran, and union steward for the United States Postal Service, where he has worked for 21 years as part of a 28-year public service career. He is a fourth-generation Palmetto resident and thus feels a deep connection to the community. A lifetime in the city “has enabled me to engage directly with residents and better understand the issues that matter most to them.”
Jones resides with his wife, Tonya, a small business owner, with whom he shares four daughters and six grandchildren. They are also foster parents, opening their home to many children over the years. His service to the community also includes work for the American Legion, Moose Lodge, and Masonic Lodge. He has also organized the “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive for the past 10 years. In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf with other civic-minded people.
Jones has decided to run for re-election “because our community deserves a Commissioner who is not only actively involved but also transparent and dedicated to addressing critical issues such as public safety. I am passionate about creating a safer future for our youth while continuing to shape a vision that will benefit our City in the long term.” To achieve this, he plans to focus on continued infrastructure improvements, particularly the city’s sewage systems, which have been overloaded with stormwater as of late. He feels that the first step should be to hire an engineer to perform a thorough assessment to ensure the system is sufficient for future growth.
Jones says he would also seek to protect the waterways, which are a draw for local boaters. “A significant part of this effort will be reducing the number of derelict boats in our river, which contributes to environmental degradation.”
Jones is one of few candidates or sitting commissioners to speak about diversity in the City. He would like to see more diversity in Palmetto’s police force and more attention paid to infrastructure in the “inner parts of the City.”
Jones identified some of Palmetto’s challenges as “supporting our local business owners by offering incentives to help them thrive. Additionally, addressing our downtown parking issues while managing smart, sustainable growth is essential. Ensuring affordable housing for Millennials and Generation Z remains a key priority as we continue to grow responsibly.” Jones supports the addition of a parking garage downtown. His vision for the City is “to cultivate a family-friendly and safe downtown atmosphere where residents and visitors alike can enjoy outdoor dining at local restaurants, all while preserving the historic character of our City. I believe that by striking this balance, we can honor our past while moving forward into a brighter future.”
Altering the negative perception that some in the community have of Palmetto is important to Jones. He feels that the City should do more to market its strengths through increased community engagement and showcasing achievements during his tenure as Commissioner, such as the addition of Connor Park, the remediation of former brownfield properties to enable development, and the completion of the long-delayed pool at Lincoln Park, the Marriott Hotel, and the new Palmetto Police Department building.
Fundraising has been a major issue in local elections, especially at the county level in 2024. Jones has strong feelings on the subject. “I believe in contributing my own funds to my campaign and seeking financial support from hardworking, dedicated individuals. I view fundraising as a reflection of a candidate’s character, so I strive to ensure that every contribution comes from a place of shared values and mutual respect.”
While his opponent has raised over $31,000 at the time of this reporting, Jones has raised just about half that amount at $15,400. Most contributions are from individuals and small businesses, while his opponent has enjoyed the support of the building industry.
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