[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 25, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E351-E352]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING MAYOR LEONARD JONES' 25 YEARS OF ELECTED SERVICE TO 
                          GRANDVIEW, MISSOURI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 25, 2023

  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished 
career of Mayor Leonard D. Jones, Jr., who has served as an elected 
representative of the people of Grandview, Missouri for 25 years. On 
this historic occasion, let us take a moment to reflect on Mayor Jones' 
illustrious career, which has come to be defined by dedication and 
distinction.
  Having lived in Grandview, Missouri since 1970, Mayor Jones graduated 
from Grandview High School before earning his bachelor's degree in 
computer science at Grambling State University and his Master of 
Business Administration at Webster University. On top of these academic 
accomplishments, Mayor Jones has achieved the lifetime Certified 
Purchasing Manager designation. Mayor Jones and his wife, Michelle, 
have three daughters, three grandsons, and one great granddaughter.
  First elected to the Grandview Board of Alderman in 1998, Mayor Jones 
served as Alderman Ward 1 for the next sixteen consecutive years, until 
becoming the city's mayor in 2014--a position he has maintained for 
nearly a decade. From the moment he took the oath of office, Mayor 
Jones began restoring trust in local government and public 
institutions, thereby earning the respect and admiration from residents 
on both sides of the aisle. Always putting the needs of the community 
first, Mayor Jones has been a tireless advocate for his constituents 
for a quarter century, forever focused on improving the lives of all 
those he serves.
  Currently, Mayor Jones serves as a Board Member of the Mid-America 
Regional Council's Total Transportation Policy Committee, in addition 
to serving on the Board of Trustees of the Little Blue Valley Sewer 
District. Moreover, Mayor Jones has served on the Grandview Chamber of 
Commerce Board of Directors, the ReDiscover Board of Directors, the 
Missouri Municipal League Finance Committee, the HENA Executive 
Committee, the Grandview Assistance Program Board of Directors, and the 
National League of Cities Service Line Warranty Committee. It goes 
without saying that Mayor Jones' commitment to public service is 
sincere and profound, and Grandview is

[[Page E352]]

a better place to call home thanks to his championing of its people.
  During his time in executive office, Mayor Jones has overseen 
significant population growth, the development of countless new housing 
units, a sharp increase in commercial activity, abundant construction, 
an uptick in revenue, and a decrease in crime rates throughout the City 
of Grandview. With a population of over 25,000 people, Grandview is 
well served by its insightful Mayor and the determination with which he 
approaches the challenges facing everyday people. From repairing 
streets and sidewalks, to revitalizing public parks, Mayor Jones has 
consistently delivered tangible results for the people of Grandview 
while acting as a faithful steward of the tax dollars to which the City 
is entrusted.
  Beyond his responsibilities as Mayor and a member of several boards 
of directors, Mayor Jones retired from Sprint/T-Mobile after working in 
various positions within the company for 34 years. Mayor Jones is the 
recipient of the 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award from Metropolitan 
Community College-Longview and the 2019 Jane Bryan Distinguished Alumni 
Award. He has served on past and current ad hoc committees with the 
Little Blue Valley Sewer District Board of Trustees and Veterans of 
Foreign Wars Post 8100. Additionally, Mayor Jones served our country in 
uniform and achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander as a Supply Corps 
Officer in the U.S. Naval Reserves. Grandview's mayor has never failed 
to lead by example, and his years of service to his community and our 
Nation will continue to inspire for generations to come.
  On behalf of the 118th Congress, I applaud Mayor Jones for serving 
the good people of Grandview, Missouri for the last 25 years in elected 
office. Mayor Jones' outstanding record of public service should serve 
as an example for people throughout this great country, and I want to 
wish the Mayor all the best in the years to come.

                          ____________________