Augusta has lost the opportunity to have the coolest sounding commissioner ever — Thelonious Jones (yes, he was named after that Thelonious) has dropped out of the District 1 race.
Jones, who is a lead operator with the water department, chose to run a campaign focused on a particular issue — water — but once the campaign started, he realized that politics gets in the way, especially of those so committed to achieving a specific thing. Campaigns are about getting elected, after all, and getting elected tends to dilute just about any message.
Jones said he could accomplish more for Augusta by staying inside the water department than he could by being a part of the commission.
At first that sounded like a cop out, but when you listen to him explain what he meant, it sounds wiser and wiser.
With everyone trying to get elected, no one is paying attention to the issues, he said, especially when it comes to keeping our water clean. Jones recommends a water authority to focus solely on our water issues as a regional concern, and while that’s a good issue, it’s not really something you can run for commission on.
Sad, because aren’t candidates supposed to run for office on what they believe in?
Jones believes the water infrastructure needs improving, especially as the area grows and more and more plants relocate to Augusta. As a 14-year veteran of the water department, one with such passion about our drinking water, he doesn’t just have a valid point, he’s right. He can do more for Augusta where he is now.
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