By Eli Yokley
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — House Speaker Tim Jones announced Thursday that he is actively considering runs for statewide office during 2016.
Speaking with reporters during his weekly post-session news conference, Jones said he is considering seeking the Republican nomination for attorney general, as well as secretary of state.
“2016, it’s no secret, will present a lot of opportunities for my party. We need to do a better job running for executive level offices,” he said, referring to the ability to connect with grassroots activists, to successfully manage a message, and to raise adequate campaign funds. “I think I have all of those components.”
“All of those offices have an enforcement component and they are a working office,” he continued. “Whatever I do, politics aside, I’m for implementing good public policy.”
Jones, who will complete his final term in 2014, seemed to rule out the possibility of running for State Senate.
“The other chamber is an interesting place,” he said. “The right kind of person can accomplish a lot over there. I give Tom Dempsey a lot of credit for volunteering to run that chamber.”
Jones has certainly raised the statewide profile of the speaker compared to years past. Last December, he went on a statewide tour where he presented his “Triple E” agenda to voters. Jones has also spent a significant amount of time in front of media in conservative southwest Missouri — most recently on Monday, when he launched a statewide tour critical of Gov. Jay Nixon’s handling of the Missouri Department of Revenue’s document scanning procedures.
