Ella Jones


Ella Jones is an American chromatographer, pastor, and politician who was elected as the 12th Mayor of Ferguson, Missouri on June 2, 2020. A member of the Ferguson City Council, Jones is the first African-American and woman elected mayor of the city.

Education

Jones moved to Ferguson, Missouri with her husband, Tim. Jones earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from the University of Missouri–St. Louis. They have lived in Ferguson for over 40 years.

Career

Prior to entering politics, Jones was a high pressure liquid chromatographer. She worked at the Washington University School of Medicine and KV Pharmaceutical before becoming a Sales Director with Mary Kay. In April 2015, Jones was elected to the Ferguson City Council as the first African American elected to the Council, representing Ward 1. In February 2020, Jones was selected to serve on the United States Environmental Protection Agency Local Government Advisory Committee.
In the 2017 municipal election, Jones ran for Mayor, receiving 42.77% of the vote. It was the city's first election after the shooting of Michael Brown and subsequent Ferguson unrest.
In the June 2, 2020 mayoral election, Jones defeated fellow council member Heather Robinett. Jones will succeed incumbent James Knowles III, a Republican who was unable to seek re-election due to term limits. Jones will be sworn in as mayor in late-June 2020.
She is also a pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Electoral history