Mecklenburg County government and its 4,700 full-time employees. The current annual County operating budget is approximately $1.45 billion.
Jones has had a long and varied career in public administration. Prior to joining Mecklenburg County, he was housing compliance director for the City of Dallas, Texas. He also held several other positions for the City of Dallas, including assistant city manager, director of court services, and director of housing and neighborhood services. He was community development director for the City of Charlotte from 1981-1984, and executive director of the Fayetteville (NC) Metropolitan Housing Authority from 1978-1981.
In April 2007, members of the Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Foundation elected Jones to a three-year term on the Foundation's board of directors. The Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Foundation supports the work of selected tax exempt healthcare, educational and social service organizations, seeking to assist projects designed to improve the quality of life for women, children, the elderly and the poor.
In November 2006, Jones was elected a fellow to The National Academy of Public Administration, an independent, non-partisan organization chartered by Congress to assist federal, state, and local governments in improving their effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability. The Academy's 550 fellows include current and former Cabinet officers, members of Congress, governors, mayors, state legislators, diplomats, business executives, local public managers, foundation executives, and scholars. They form the heart of the Academy's studies - from inception through implementation - serving on project panels and guiding other major activities.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Board of Trustees elected Jones to the UNC Board of Visitors in June 2006. The UNC Board of Visitors is a 160-member group of volunteers who assist the Board of Trustees in a range of activities including public relations, government relations and fund raising. Jones' term runs from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2010.
In March 2005, Jones was elected president of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators, a 2,500-member organization. He was re-elected president in March 2006.
In 1980, Jones was elected a charter member of the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA) and a member of the board of directors of the Carolinas Conference of Housing and Redevelopment Officials.
He serves on the board of directors of Metro-YMCA of Greater Charlotte, the Wachovia Championship, Champions for Education, Inc., United Way of Central Carolinas (ex-officio), and the Charlotte Regional Partnership (ex-officio). He is a member of Sigma Pi Phi fraternity.
Jones has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including: Pride Magazine Public Service Award, 2006; N.C. Association of County Commissioners Outstanding County Program Award for "Establishing Ethical Expectations," 2003; Morehouse Alumni Association Community Service "Beacon of Light" Award, 2002; and the Charlotte Post "People of Prominence" Award, 2001.
He holds a master's degree in public administration and a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned an Associate of Arts degree from Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, NC.
While a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, Jones was inducted into the Order of the Golden Fleece (the University's highest honorary society), the Order of the Grail and the Society of Janus. He was employed as a student assistant to the dean of student affairs, serving as a liaison to minority students. At Sandhills Community College, he was elected Student Government Association president and was the recipient of the school's R.P. Beasley Award for outstanding student leadership. In 1991, he received Sandhill's Distinguished Alumni Award.
In 1969, Jones was appointed by then-Gov. Robert Scott as a student member of the N.C. Conference for Social Services. He was also appointed a state delegate to the White House Conference on Children and Youth in 1970 by Gov. Scott.
Jones is a native of Southern Pines, North Carolina. He and his wife, Becky, have four children: Ebony, LaHari, Reina, and Harry, Jr; and four grandchildren: Mahogany, Cedar, N'dya and Quest.
