Meet the Candidate: Saunders Jones III

Cartersville’s general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8, and only two school board seats are contested. Candidates will be introduced on Cartersville Patch. Today, we have at-large school board candidate Saunders Jones III, who is running against Linda Benton.

Saunders Jones III, assistant vice president and commercial loan officer at , is taking on long-time chairman Linda Benton for the at-large seat on the .

Married to first-grade teacher, Katie Glawson Jones, the couple have two children, one of whom is in the system's pre-kindergarten program.

"I am running because I have a passion for this community and a passion for the Cartersville School System. As a former student, I have walked the same halls, sat in the same classrooms, and played on the same athletic fields as today's students," Jones said in a statement. "It is extremely important to me to do all that I can to ensure that this system remains a school of excellence in everything from athletics to academics. The Cartersville School System has helped shape me into the person I am today and I feel very strongly that it is important to give back to the system that has given me so much. I believe that the school system belongs to this community and I am running because I want to ensure that the people of this community have a voice on their school board."

Jones currently serves as Economic Development chairman for the Cartersville Downtown Development Authority. 

"I think holding that position gives me a unique perspective to bring to the school board and should the community choose me to represent them at the school board, I will continue my service at the DDA until I think I can no longer devote the time needed to do an effective job for the DDA," he said.

He also serves as chairman of the Small Business Council and member of the steering committee for the Youth Leadership Program at the . Jones is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Banking from Louisiana State University and graduated the Chamber's Leadership Bartow program.