SPRINGBORO, Ohio — It was her own family that inspired Shannon Jones to run for elected office, but it’s her concern for other families that has motivated her to continue public service for the past 14 years.
Jones talked with WCPO 9 News about the beliefs that guide her as part of an audio story series called Ohio Values.
The idea behind the series is to give local, national and global audiences insight into what matters to Ohio voters in advance of the 2020 presidential election.
To create Ohio Values, journalists from six news outlets spent the past several months interviewing Ohio voters throughout the state to get their perspectives.
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All interviews were conducted using the story-gathering tool A Picture’s Worth, where voters selected a photograph that is important to them and then discussed that photo and the values they hold dear.
Jones selected a photo of a trip to Hawaii that her family took with her mom, her stepdad and her sister’s family.
The photo speaks to the core values that led her to public office, how those values evolved over time and how they influence every one of her votes -– whether it’s as an elected leader or as a citizen at the polls.
“I feel the need to sort of recognize that in my own joy of having these moments with my family, that it’s not like that for a lot of families,” Jones said. “I feel a greater sense of responsibility to people who don’t have that picture-perfect family and opportunity and experience.”
Listen to the full audio story below:
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Go to the Ohio Values homepage to discover more stories in the series and to subscribe to the Ohio Values newsletter.
